The Effect of Oxymatrine on Serum GLP-1 and DPP-4 Levels in Healthy Male Rats

Aim: Oximatrine (OMT), a bioactive quinolizidine alkaloid isolated from Sophora flavescens, demonstrates various pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and emerging metabolic regulatory effects. Although its glucose-lowering potential has been recognized, its effect on the incretin system, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its regulatory enzyme, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4), remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the relationship between serum GLP-1 and DPP-4 biomarkers and to examine the effects of OMT applied at varying doses. Materials and Methods: The experiment included 28 male Wistar rats. The rats were grouped as Control (CONT, saline), OMT15 (15 mg/kg OMT), OMT30 (30 mg/kg OMT), and OMT60 (60 mg/kg OMT). Daily applications were administered intraperitoneally for 28 days. Twenty-four hours after the last application, blood was taken from the animals via cardiac puncture under urethane anesthesia. Results: Chronic OMT administration significantly impacted both GLP-1 and DPP-4 levels. Compared to the CONT group, the OMT15, OMT30, and OMT60 groups had statistically significantly higher levels of GLP-1 and DPP-4. Likewise, the GLP-1 and DPP-4 levels of the OMT60 group were statistically higher than OMT15 and OMT30 groups. A noteworthy positive correlation was identified with individual serum GLP-1 and DPP-4 levels in all animals treated with OMT. Additionally, a noteworthy positive relationship was observed with GLP-1 and DPP-4 levels. Conclusion: Consequently, OMT utilization has been observed to increase GLP-1 and DPP-4 levels, and a positive correlation with these parameters has been observed. The results show the potential effects of OMT on mechanisms related to the incretin system and provide a basis for further studies. Keywords: Glucagon-like peptide 1, Dipeptidyl peptidase 4, Incretin hormones, Glucose homeostasis