Oleuropein (OLEU), a natural polyphenol, exhibits cardioprotective potential through mitochondrial modulation, yet its precise mechanisms remain elusive. This study elucidates OLEU's role in alleviating oxidative stress and regulating mitochondrial quality control via the PINK1/Parkin pathway. In vitro, H9C2 cardiomyocytes exposed to H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress were treated with OLEU (0–200 μM), and analyses included cell viability, ROS, SOD, MDA, ΔΨm, ATP, PINK1/Parkin expression and detection of Mitophagic Flux. In vivo, myocardial infarction (MI) was induced in SD rats via coronary ligation, followed by OLEU administration, with assessments of cardiac function, histopathology, and mitophagy using echocardiography, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Results showed that OLEU (≤200 μM) dose-dependently restored cell viability, reduced ROS, and normalized SOD/MDA ( p < 0.05), while mitigating ΔΨm collapse and ATP depletion, indicating enhanced mitochondrial bioenergetics. OLEU upregulated PINK1/Parkin, promoting mitophagic clearance of damaged mitochondria, and metabolomic analysis revealed modulation of arginine/proline and lipid pathways. In MI rats, OLEU attenuated ROS, preserved myocardial structure, and improved cardiac function, supported by elevated mitophagy in electron microscopy. These findings demonstrate that OLEU protects cardiomyocytes by suppressing oxidative stress, stabilizing mitochondrial integrity, and activating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, highlighting its therapeutic potential for myocardial injury and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Jia Xi Ye,Jia Ying Wu,Liang Ai,Min Zhu,Yun Li,Dong Yin,Qihui Huang
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the significant involvement of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide in its pathogenesis. Geniposide, derived from the versatile medicinal of Gardenia jasminoides , is one of the active compounds studied extensively. The objective was to explore the impact of geniposide on Aβ 25-35 -induced damage in HT22 cells, specifically focusing on its modulation of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy. In our investigation, geniposide exhibited remarkable restorative effects by enhancing cell viability and preserving the mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, it effectively reduced and mitigated the oxidative stress and apoptosis rates induced by Aβ 25-35 . Notably, geniposide exhibited the capacity to enhance autophagic flux, upregulate LC3II and Beclin-1 expression, and downregulate the expression of p62. Furthermore, geniposide positively influenced the expression of PINK1 and Parkin proteins, with molecular docking substantiating a strong interaction between geniposide and PINK1/Parkin proteins. Intriguingly, the beneficial outcomes of geniposide on alleviating the pronounced apoptosis rates, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, and diminished the PINK1 and Parkin expression induced by Aβ 25-35 were compromised by the mitophagy inhibitor cyclosporine A (CsA). Collectively, these findings suggested that geniposide potentially shields HT22 cells against neurodegenerative damage triggered by Aβ 25-35 through the activation of mitophagy. The insights contribute valuable references to the defensive consequences against neurological damage of geniposide, thereby highlighting its potential as a therapeutic intervention in AD.