Activation of autophagy through Sirt1/AMPK/mTOR mediates the protective effects of fraxin against insulin resistance and steatosis in rats

Insulin resistance (IR) and hepatic steatosis are key pathological features of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Fraxin, a natural flavonoid with potential metabolic regulatory properties, has been proposed to modulate metabolic disorders. This study aimed to investigate whether fraxin protects against IR and steatosis via Sirt1/AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy activation. A T2DM rat model was established using high-fat diet (HFD) feeding combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Rats were treated with fraxin (25 or 50 mg/kg) for 4 weeks, followed by assessment of fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin (FINS), HOMA-IR index, serum lipid profiles and liver function. Histopathological examination (H&E and Oil Red O staining) evaluated hepatic steatosis. BRL 3A cells exposed to palmitic acid (PA) were treated with fraxin (40 or 80 µM), and glucose uptake, lipid accumulation, and protein expression (IRS-1 phosphorylation, GLUT-2 translocation, autophagy markers and Sirt1/AMPK/mTOR pathway components) were analyzed. The specific autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) was used to verify whether the regulatory effects of fraxin were dependent on autophagy activation. Fraxin significantly reduced FBG, FINS, HOMA-IR, and dyslipidemia in diabetic rats. In PA-treated BRL 3A cells, fraxin enhanced glucose uptake, reduced lipid droplets, and restored IRS-1 phosphorylation and GLUT-2 membrane localization. Mechanistically, fraxin activated autophagy and modulated the Sirt1/AMPK/mTOR pathway, which were abolished by the Sirt1 inhibitor EX527. In conclusion, fraxin alleviates IR and hepatic steatosis in HFD/STZ-induced diabetic rats by activating autophagy through Sirt1/AMPK/mTOR pathway, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for diabetes-associated metabolic disorders.