Icaritin alleviates motor impairment and osteoporosis in Parkinson’s disease mice via the ER-PI3K/Akt pathway
Abstract This study investigates the role of flavonoid Icaritin (ICT) in estrogen-deficient ovariectomized (OVX) female mice by activating the Estrogen receptor (ER)/ Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, potentially delaying Parkinson’s disease (PD) progress...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87429-2 |
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| author | Xianmei Lin Xinyu Zhou Xingman Liu Lingqiong Xia Jing Cai Nanqu Huang Yong Luo Weidong Wu |
| author_facet | Xianmei Lin Xinyu Zhou Xingman Liu Lingqiong Xia Jing Cai Nanqu Huang Yong Luo Weidong Wu |
| author_sort | Xianmei Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study investigates the role of flavonoid Icaritin (ICT) in estrogen-deficient ovariectomized (OVX) female mice by activating the Estrogen receptor (ER)/ Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, potentially delaying Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression post-castration. Seventy-five 8-week-old C57BL/6J female mice underwent ovariectomy, followed by MPTP (20 mg/kg) injection for 7 days. ICT (20 mg/kg) was administered for 14 days, and motor function was assessed using various behavioral tests. Serum estradiol, FSH, LH levels were measured by ELISA, and the expression of PI3K/Akt signaling and apoptosis proteins was analyzed by Western blot. Bone mineral density was assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorption, and histology of the uterus and femur was performed. Results showed that ICT alleviated MPTP-induced motor deficits, increased serum estradiol, and improved uterine atrophy. At the molecular level, ICT activated the PI3K/Akt pathway, reduced apoptosis, and mitigated PD symptoms and osteoporosis induced by OVX. These findings suggest ICT may offer therapeutic potential in managing OVX-induced motor dysfunction and PD. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6d4d7f0ee8dd4340ab3ae2fe6b5a2939 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d4d7f0ee8dd4340ab3ae2fe6b5a29392025-01-26T12:30:39ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-87429-2Icaritin alleviates motor impairment and osteoporosis in Parkinson’s disease mice via the ER-PI3K/Akt pathwayXianmei Lin0Xinyu Zhou1Xingman Liu2Lingqiong Xia3Jing Cai4Nanqu Huang5Yong Luo6Weidong Wu7Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi)Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi)Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi)Department of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Zunyi)Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese MedicineAbstract This study investigates the role of flavonoid Icaritin (ICT) in estrogen-deficient ovariectomized (OVX) female mice by activating the Estrogen receptor (ER)/ Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, potentially delaying Parkinson’s disease (PD) progression post-castration. Seventy-five 8-week-old C57BL/6J female mice underwent ovariectomy, followed by MPTP (20 mg/kg) injection for 7 days. ICT (20 mg/kg) was administered for 14 days, and motor function was assessed using various behavioral tests. Serum estradiol, FSH, LH levels were measured by ELISA, and the expression of PI3K/Akt signaling and apoptosis proteins was analyzed by Western blot. Bone mineral density was assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorption, and histology of the uterus and femur was performed. Results showed that ICT alleviated MPTP-induced motor deficits, increased serum estradiol, and improved uterine atrophy. At the molecular level, ICT activated the PI3K/Akt pathway, reduced apoptosis, and mitigated PD symptoms and osteoporosis induced by OVX. These findings suggest ICT may offer therapeutic potential in managing OVX-induced motor dysfunction and PD.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87429-2Parkinson’s diseaseIcaritinEstrogen receptorPostmenopausal womenPhosphatidylinositol 3-kinaseProtein kinase B |
| spellingShingle | Xianmei Lin Xinyu Zhou Xingman Liu Lingqiong Xia Jing Cai Nanqu Huang Yong Luo Weidong Wu Icaritin alleviates motor impairment and osteoporosis in Parkinson’s disease mice via the ER-PI3K/Akt pathway Scientific Reports Parkinson’s disease Icaritin Estrogen receptor Postmenopausal women Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase Protein kinase B |
| title | Icaritin alleviates motor impairment and osteoporosis in Parkinson’s disease mice via the ER-PI3K/Akt pathway |
| title_full | Icaritin alleviates motor impairment and osteoporosis in Parkinson’s disease mice via the ER-PI3K/Akt pathway |
| title_fullStr | Icaritin alleviates motor impairment and osteoporosis in Parkinson’s disease mice via the ER-PI3K/Akt pathway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Icaritin alleviates motor impairment and osteoporosis in Parkinson’s disease mice via the ER-PI3K/Akt pathway |
| title_short | Icaritin alleviates motor impairment and osteoporosis in Parkinson’s disease mice via the ER-PI3K/Akt pathway |
| title_sort | icaritin alleviates motor impairment and osteoporosis in parkinson s disease mice via the er pi3k akt pathway |
| topic | Parkinson’s disease Icaritin Estrogen receptor Postmenopausal women Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase Protein kinase B |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87429-2 |
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