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. 2025 May 30:16:1545356.
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1545356. eCollection 2025.

Improvement on mitochondrial energy metabolism of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. polysaccharide

He Li #  1   2 , Letian Zhang #  1   2 , Xingtai Li  3 , Haocheng He  2 , Guoan Fu  2 , Yi Zhun Zhu  1 , Wei Hu  1 , Lige Qiu  1 , Liang Gong  2 , Youming Zhang  1   2
Affiliations

Improvement on mitochondrial energy metabolism of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. polysaccharide

He Li et al. Front Pharmacol. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. (CP) is one of the most popular Qi-invigorating herbal medicines and has been extensively used to promote health and vitality in China for a long time. Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. polysaccharide (CPP) is the principal active components of CP, which is considered as the reason for CP widespread application. However, it has not been revealed that CPP exert a Qi-invigoration effect by protecting mitochondria and/or improving mitochondrial function in the existing traditional Chinese medicine theories.

Aim of the study: We extracted CPP from C. pilosula and investigated the effects of CPP on energy metabolism and mitochondrial protection.

Methods: Based on the mice chronic hypoxia model for imitating the energy deficiency state of the human body, which was administered with CPP by oral gavage daily for 10 days, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain, mitochondrial respiratory function, the levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in liver cells were assayed. Adenylate energy charge (AEC), total adenylate pool (TAP), ATP/ADP, and ATP/AMP ratios were calculated.

Results: CPP can inhibit the formation of MDA in mice brains, decrease oxygen consuming rate and respiratory control ratio (RCR) of liver mitochondria, increase levels of ATP, TAP and AEC in liver cells under chronic hypoxia condition.

Conclusion: CPP can possess and improve mitochondrial energy metabolism and bioenergetic levels.

Keywords: Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. polysaccharide; adenosine triphosphate; anti-hypoxia; energy metabolism; mitochondria; mitochondrial respiratory function.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
(A) Preparation of CPP. (B) CPP’s inhibition effects (50 mg/L, 100 mg/L) on Ca2+-induced liver MPT in vitro. A540 nm: Absorbance at 540 nm; RR: ruthenium red, CPP: Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. polysaccharide. MPT: mitochondrial permeability transition.; All values are mean ± SEM (n = 10). * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, compared with model group.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The effects of CPP on brain MDA level in vivo. CPP significantly decreased MDA formation in brain mitochondria. All values are mean ± SEM (n = 10). **P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001 compared to model group.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
The effects of CPP on liver mitochondrial respiratory function in vivo. (A) S3: Respiratory state 3. (B) RCR: Respiratory control ratio. (C) P/O: The number of moles of Pi consumed for each oxygen atom reduced to H2O. (D) S4: Respiratory state 4. All values are mean ± SEM (n = 10). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001 compared to model group.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Effects of CPP on energy status of mice hepatocyte in vivo. (A) ATP level. (B) ADP level. (C) AMP level. (D) TAP level. (E) AEC level. (F) ATP/AEP. (G) ATP/AMP. All values are mean ± SEM (n = 10). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 compared to model group.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
The feedback regulation of CPP on OXPHOS. CPP can decrease AMP, and increase ATP, TAP, ATP/ADP, ATP/AMP ratio, AEC in hypoxic liver cells, which feedback inhibit OXPHOS by decreasing RCR, S3 and POR of liver mitochondria, this may further decrease Δψm to reduce ROS generation. This outcome is attributed to the enhancement of mitochondrial energy metabolism and the elevation of cellular bioenergetic levels.
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