Longevity & AgingHow Two TCM Compounds Damage the Heart Through Energy and Autophagy Pathways
Researchers at Fujian Medical University investigated why two traditional Chinese medicine compounds — periplocin and bufalin — cause dose-dependent heart damage. Using cardiomyoblasts and zebrafish models, they found both compounds disrupt the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway, impairing mitochondrial function and energy metabolism while triggering excessive autophagy. A key mechanism involves altered m6A RNA modifications, specifically through the proteins YTHDC1 and ALKBH5. Importantly, cardiotoxicity was partially reversed using an AMPK activator and an autophagy inhibitor, pointing toward potential protective strategies for patients using these compounds clinically.
