Marein has the neuroprotective effect due to a reduction of damage to mitochondria function and activation of the AMPK signal pathway. Marein improves insulin resistance induced by high glucose in HepG2 cells through CaMKK/AMPK/GLUT1 to promote glucose uptake, through IRS/Akt/GSK-3β to increase glycogen synthesis, and through Akt/FoxO1 to decrease gluconeogenesis. Marein is a HDAC inhibitor with an IC50 of 100 µM. Marein has beneficial antioxidative, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic and antidiabetic effects[1][2][3].
[1]. Baoping Jiang, et al. Protective effects of marein on high glucose-induced glucose metabolic disorder in HepG2 cells. Phytomedicine. 2016 Aug 15;23(9):891-900. [2]. Baoping Jiang, et al. Marein protects against methylglyoxal-induced apoptosis by activating the AMPK pathway in PC12 cells. Free Radic Res. 2016;50(11):1173-1187. [3]. B Orlikova, et al. Natural chalcones as dual inhibitors of HDACs and NF-κB. Oncol Rep. 2012 Sep;28(3):797-805.