Effects of C-Glycosides from Apios americana Leaves against Oxidative Stress during Hyperglycemia through Regulating Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases and Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2

Main components of Apios americana leaves extract (ALE) were flavonoid C-glycosides, including vitexin (46.7%), schaftoside (18.9%), and orientin (4.32%). In vitro, ALE restored glucose consumption, glucose uptake, and glycogen content in glucose-induced hepatic cells. Exposure of HepG2 cells to high glucose resulted in reactive oxygen species and O2– accumulation, while ALE alleviated these increases by 47 ± 0.68 and 68 ± 0.74%, respectively. Glucose increased c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and decreased extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and p38 phosphorylation, while ALE reduced p-JNK and p-p38 but not p-ERK1/2, accompanied by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1, and NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase 1 downregulation. In vivo, the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans was more violently shortened by paraquat under hyperglycemia, while ALE protected this damage in N2 worms (2.6 times extension) but not in daf-16 mutants. Furthermore, p38/PMK-1 and Nrf2/SKN-1 expressions in worms were suppressed by glucose, which were reversed by ALE treatment. These results suggest that ALE prevents glucose-induced damage via regulating specific mitogen-activated protein kinases and Nrf2 pathways.