Quadrella incana (Capparaceae) Leaf Extract Enhances Proliferation and Maintenance of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells through Upregulating Glycolytic Flux and Redox Potential

Figure 5

Quadrella incana leaf extract upregulated glycolytic pathway, leading to the activation of lactate-AKT-mTOR axis. (a) Relative intracellular or extracellular lactate levels in proliferating NSPCs after treatment with DMSO or 100 μg/ml Quadrella incana leaf extract. The relative lactate levels of DMSO-treated cells were set to 1. (b) Relative extracellular lactate levels in proliferating NSPCs in the presence or absence of 2-DG after treatment with DMSO or 100 μg/ml Quadrella incana leaf extract. The relative lactate levels of DMSO-treated cells were set to 1. (c) mRNA levels of Myc and glycolytic genes (Glut1, Glut3, and LHDA) in proliferating NSPCs treated with DMSO or 100 μg/ml Quadrella incana leaf extract were measured by qRT-PCR. Values are . The mRNA levels of DMSO-treated cells were set to 1. (d) Western blot analysis of phospho mTOR and phospho AKT in proliferating NSPCs after treatment with DMSO or 100 μg/ml Quadrella incana leaf extract for 3 days. Levels of phospho mTOR and phospho AKT were normalized to total mTOR and total AKT, respectively. The relative band intensities of phospho mTOR and phospho AKT proteins are shown on the right panels. The intensities of DMSO-treated sample were arbitrarily set as 1.

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