Ginsenoside Rh4 delays skeletal muscle aging through SIRT1 pathway

Background The aging of skeletal muscle is the leading cause of physical disability in older adults, currently effective treatment methods are lacking. Ginsenoside Rh4, an active component extracted from ginseng , possesses beneficial anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. Purpose The aim of this study was to elucidate the antioxidant effect of ginsenoside Rh4 on aging skeletal muscle and its molecular mechanism of anti-aging of skeletal muscle. Study design In this study, we employed a D-galactose-induced model of skeletal muscle aging to investigate whether ginsenoside Rh4 can delay the process of skeletal muscle senescence. Methods The effects of ginsenoside Rh4 on oxidative damage and inflammation in aging skeletal muscle were analyzed using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry , ELISA kits, H&E staining, flow cytometry, and protein immunoblotting . The changes of ginsenoside Rh4 on mitochondrial morphology were observed by transmission electron microscopy , and ELISA kits and protein immunoblotting analyzed the effects of ginsenoside Rh4 on mitochondrial homeostasis in skeletal muscle cells . The influence of ginsenoside Rh4 on the SIRT1 signaling pathway in aging skeletal muscle were investigated by protein immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and β-galactosidase staining. Results Our results showed that Rh4 improved the morphology of muscle fibers and produced an anti-inflammatory response. Furthermore, in vitro experiments indicated that ginsenosides reduced the production of senescent cells, while Rh4 effectively alleviated oxidative damage in skeletal muscle and restored mitochondrial balance. Transcriptome analysis and molecular docking showed that Rh4 improved mitochondrial homeostasis and delayed skeletal muscle aging by regulating the PGC-1α-TFAM and HIF-1α-c-Myc pathways via targeting SIRT1. Conclusion Ginsenoside Rh4 improves oxidative stress and inflammation in skeletal muscle by activating SIRT1, deacetylating Nrf2, regulating PGC-1α-TFAM and HIF-1α-c-Myc pathways, and enhancing mitochondrial homeostasis, thus achieving the effect of delaying skeletal muscle aging.