{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:04:56Z","timestamp":1760058296493,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,30]],"date-time":"2025-03-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743292800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003710","name":"Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI)","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["HF23C0082"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["HF23C0082"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003710","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Muscle atrophy, defined by diminished muscle mass and function, is a notable concern associated with aging, disease, and glucocorticoid treatment. Pueraria montana var. lobata extract (PMLE) demonstrates multiple bioactive properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory activities; however, its role in muscle atrophy has not been extensively investigated to date. This study examined how PMLE influences both muscle cell differentiation and dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle degeneration by focusing on the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: This study examined the effects of PMLE on myogenic differentiation and DEX-induced muscle atrophy. C2C12 myoblasts were treated with PMLE (10\u2013100 ng\/mL) and assessed for changes in the expression of myogenesis-related genes and activation of Akt\/mTOR and AMPK\/SIRT1\/PGC-1\u03b1 signaling cascades. In vivo, a DEX-induced muscle atrophy model was used to assess muscle mass, fiber morphology, and molecular changes. Results: PMLE PMLE promoted muscle cell development by increasing the expression of MyHC, MyoD, and myogenin while activating protein synthesis and mitochondrial biogenesis pathways. PMLE counteracted DEX-induced myotube atrophy, restoring myotube diameter and promoting cellular fusion in vitro. In vivo, PMLE mitigated muscle degradation in fast-twitch muscle groups and reversed DEX-induced suppression of key anabolic and mitochondrial pathways. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PMLE promotes myogenic differentiation and protects against muscle atrophy by regulating critical molecular pathways, indicating its promise as a treatment candidate for conditions involving muscle wasting. Further studies are required to assess its clinical application and long-term safety efficacy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17071217","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]],"date-time":"2025-03-31T01:59:36Z","timestamp":1743386376000},"page":"1217","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Dual Action of Pueraria montana var. lobata Extract on Myogenesis and Muscle Atrophy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1591-3286","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"So Young","family":"Eun","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Musculoskeletal and Immune Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksandae-ro, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea"},{"name":"Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksandae-ro, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chang Hoon","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Musculoskeletal and Immune Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksandae-ro, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea"},{"name":"Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital, 460 Iksandae-ro, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yoon-Hee","family":"Cheon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Musculoskeletal and Immune Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksandae-ro, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5806-0733","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chong Hyuk","family":"Chung","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Musculoskeletal and Immune Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksandae-ro, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea"},{"name":"Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital, 460 Iksandae-ro, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Myeung Su","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Musculoskeletal and Immune Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksandae-ro, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea"},{"name":"Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital, 460 Iksandae-ro, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4493-0264","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ju-Young","family":"Kim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Musculoskeletal and Immune Disease Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksandae-ro, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cell.2004.12.007","article-title":"Molecular mechanisms of muscle atrophy","volume":"119","author":"McKinnell","year":"2004","journal-title":"Cell"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"M911","DOI":"10.1093\/gerona\/58.10.M911","article-title":"Sarcopenia: Causes, consequences, and preventions","volume":"58","author":"Marcell","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. 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