the modulatory effects of lonicera caerulea l. extract and omega-3 on sarcopenia via regulating pi3k and foxo signaling pathways in rats

Introduction: sarcopenia is an inflammatory disease caused by a disruption of muscle homeostasis. lonicera caerulea l. (haskap berry) (hb) extract and omega-3 (ω−3) possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. this study assesses the potential ameliorating effects of hb extract and ω−3 supplementation on dexamethasone (dexa)-induced sarcopenia. methods: rats were divided into five groups; the negative control group was injected with saline (i.p.); groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were injected with dexa (2 mg/kg/d, i.p.); groups 3 and 4 also received 400 mg/kg/d and 100 mg/kg/d of hb extract and ω−3, respectively, while group 5 received both treatments daily for 21 days. the ameliorative effects of treatments were investigated by measuring lysosomal proteolytic enzyme cathepsin activity, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (pi3k) activity, nuclear factor kappa beta (nf-κb) level, and heme oxygenase-1 (ho-1) activity. the gene expression levels of muscle ring-finger protein (murf) and forkhead box o (foxo) transcription factor were also evaluated. biochemical and histological examinations were done on muscle tissues. results: dexa caused a significant elevation (p<0.05) in nf-κβ level and cathepsin activity in muscle tissue. also, it significantly upregulated the muscle atrophy markers. meanwhile, pi3k and ho-1 activities were significantly reduced. hb extract and ω−3 administration significantly (p≤0.05) reversed these effects and downregulated the mrna expression levels of murf and foxo. also, the histopathological examination confirmed these results. conclusion: the current study proved the ameliorative effects of hb extract and ω−3 on sarcopenia parameters. therefore, they might be potential therapeutic agents for myopathy/sarcopenia.