Activation of mTOR Signaling and Myoblast Differentiation by Lithospermum Erythrorhizon in C2C12 Cells

Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and function, can be mitigated by promoting myogenic differentiation, and in this regard, there has been increasing interest in natural compounds that can stimulate muscle differentiation. In this study, we examined the effects of an extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizonroots (LERE) on C2C12 myoblast differentiation. Treatment with LERE was found to enhance IGF2-ME activity and S6K1 phosphorylation, the latter of which has been established to be indicative of mTORC1-mediated protein synthesis, which is essential for myotube formation. Furthermore, LERE was demonstrated to promote the morphological differentiation of myoblast C2C12 cells, upregulate expression of the early myogenic transcription factor MyoD, and downregulate the expression of PAX7. The findings of this study indicate that LERE enhances myogenesis in myoblast C2C12 cells via its effects on the mTOR pathway, thereby indicating it potential utility as a natural agent for promoting muscle health.