Journal Article

Heqi San alleviates diabetic atherosclerosis and alters serum metabolic profiles in rats

Wang, Hongli, Li, Juntong, Liu, Xuemei, Zhao, Hengxia, Liu, Deliang, Chu, Shufang, Li, Huilin

2025

Overview

Background Heqi San has shown therapeutic potential in the treatment of diabetes. This study aimed to explore the mechanism underlying the effects of Heqi San in treating rats with diabetic atherosclerosis (AS). Methods We established a model of atherosclerosis in diabetic rats and treated them with Heqi San. Body weight, food intake, and water intake were measured every two weeks. Subsequently, we examined the effects of Heqi San on serum biochemical markers, aortic structure, fat accumulation, and serum levels of inflammatory factors. The levels of p-AMPK and AMPK in thoracic aorta tissue were evaluated by western blotting. Mass spectrometry was used to identify differential serum metabolites after Heqi San treatment. Results Intragastric administration of Heqi San enhanced food intake and reduced the excessive water intake caused by diabetic atherosclerosis. Both low and high doses of Heqi San decreased elevated levels of TG, TC, LDL, GLU, and insulin, while increasing HDL levels. Additionally, the AS group showed increased expression of CD68 and CCL-2 in thoracic aorta tissue, along with elevated serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Treatment with Heqi San reduced these inflammatory markers. Heqi San also increased p-AMPK expression in thoracic aorta tissue. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the AS group had significantly elevated serum levels of L-NIL, Gln_Cys_Asp, and Geshoidin, whereas high-dose Heqi San treatment decreased the levels of these metabolites. Conclusions Heqi San could alleviate atherosclerosis in diabetic rats, and this effect may be associated with changes in serum metabolites such as L-NIL, Gln_Cys_Asp, and Geshoidin.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: AMP-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism / AMPK / Analysis / Angiology / Animals / Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology / Aorta / Aorta, Thoracic - drug effects / Aorta, Thoracic - metabolism / Aorta, Thoracic - pathology / Aortic Diseases - blood / Aortic Diseases - etiology / Aortic Diseases - pathology / Aortic Diseases - prevention & control / Arteriosclerosis / Atherosclerosis / Atherosclerosis - blood / Atherosclerosis - drug therapy / Atherosclerosis - etiology / Atherosclerosis - metabolism / Atherosclerosis - pathology / Atherosclerosis - prevention & control / Biochemical markers / Biomarkers - blood / Blood Glucose - drug effects / Blood Glucose - metabolism / Blood Transfusion Medicine / Body weight / Cardiac Surgery / Cardiology / Care and treatment / Complications and side effects / Cytokines - blood / Development and progression / Diabetes / Diabetes mellitus / Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - blood / Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - complications / Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - drug therapy / Diabetic Angiopathies - blood / Diabetic Angiopathies - drug therapy / Diabetic Angiopathies - etiology / Diabetic Angiopathies - pathology / Diabetic Angiopathies - prevention & control / Diabetic atherosclerosis / Diet / Disease Models, Animal / Drug dosages / Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology / Eating - drug effects / Experiments / Fat accumulation / Food intake / Glucose / Health aspects / Heqi San / Herbal medicine / High density lipoprotein / Inflammation / Inflammation Mediators - blood / Internal Medicine / Laboratory animals / Lipid metabolism / Lipids / Lipids - blood / Low density lipoprotein / Male / Mass spectrometry / Mass spectroscopy / Medical research / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Medicine, Chinese / Metabolism / Metabolites / Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Rats, Sprague-Dawley / Risk factors / Scientific imaging / Serum levels / Thorax / Traditional Chinese medicine / Tumor necrosis factor-α / Type 2 diabetes / Water intake / Western blotting