Puerarin alleviates LPS-induced endothelial cells injury via SIRT1-mediated mitochondrial homeostasis signaling

Endothelial inflammation injury is a key mechanism that occurs in the pathological processes of various cardiovascular diseases. Puerarin (PUE) is an isoflavone compound with strong antioxidant properties and the main active component isolated from the rhizome of Pueraria lobata. PUE exhibits a good anti-atherosclerotic pharmacological effect, but there are few studies on the mechanism of its protective effect on endothelial cells. This study found that PUE could regulate to some extent the mitochondrial function of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and reduce or inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress injury in HUVECs. Furthermore, the protective effect of PUE on HUVECs was closely related to the SIRT-1 signaling pathway. PUE increased the level of mitophagy and the activity of mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes by increasing SIRT-1 expression, reducing excessive production of ROS, and inhibiting expression of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress injury. Therefore, PUE may improve mitochondrial respiratory function and energy metabolism and increase the activity of HUVECs in the inflammatory state.