AUTHOR=Lee Hyunjung , Kim Young In , Kim Min Jung , Hahm Jeong-Hoon , Seo Hyo Deok , Ha Tae Youl , Jung Chang Hwa , Ahn Jiyun 

TITLE=Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis L.) Leaves Improve Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy via Nrf2 Activation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.891762

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.891762

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Skeletal muscle atrophy is characterized by reduced muscle function and size. Oxidative stress contributes to muscle atrophy but can be treated with antioxidants. This study investigated the antioxidant activity of a castor oil plant leaf (<italic>Ricinus communis</italic> L.) extract (RC) and its effects on muscle atrophy. Rutin was identified as the major compound among the thirty compounds identified in RC <italic>via</italic> LC-MS/MS and was found to inhibit dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy and mitochondrial oxidative stress. Rutin-rich RC showed DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and efficiently reduced the DEX-induced myotube atrophy and mitochondrial oxidative damage in C2C12 cells. RC supplementation prevented the loss of muscle function and muscle mass in DEX-administered mice and ameliorated DEX-induced oxidative stress <italic>via</italic> Nrf2 signaling. Taken together, both RC and rutin ameliorated muscle atrophy and helped in maintaining redox homeostasis; hence, rutin-rich RC could be a promising functional food that is beneficial for muscle health.</p>