The Effect of the Cudrania Tricuspidata Root Extract on mTOR-Mediated Myogenesis in C2C12 Cells

Skeletal muscle differentiation is essential to maintain proper posture and long-term functional stability. Understanding the mechanisms regulating myogenic differentiation can facilitate the development of effective therapeutic approaches for muscle degeneration. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effect of the Cudrania tricuspidataroot extract (CRE) on the myogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts, focusing on the mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) pathway. CRE enhanced the insulin-like growth factor 2-muscle-specific enhancer activity,which was suppressed by rapamycin, thereby confirming mTOR pathwayinvolvement. Additionally, CRE significantly promoted myotube formation, fusion, and differentiation and modulated the levels of key transcription factors, myogenic differentiation factor (upregulated) and paired box-7 (downregulated), indicative of early-stage myogenesis. Overall, CRE promoted mTOR-mediated differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts, acting as a novel therapeutic candidate for muscle degeneration and associated disorders.