Composition for preventing or treating muscle atrophy containing Lycii Cortex extract as an active ingredient

Muscle atrophy treatment material using Lycii Cortex extract to inhibit muscle protein degradation and enhance synthesis

This technology utilizes an extract of Lycii Cortex, the root bark of the goji berry plant, as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical and food compositions designed to prevent and treat sarcopenia, disuse muscle atrophy, denervation-induced atrophy, drug-induced or malnutrition-induced atrophy, and muscular dystrophy. It also includes a method for preparing the composition by pulverizing dried Lycii Cortex and extracting it with water or lower alcohols.

Loss of muscle mass leads to reduced walking speed and grip strength, triggering a vicious cycle that can result in falls, fractures, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Muscle atrophy is caused not only by aging but also by physical inactivity, cachexia, chemotherapy, and exposure to excess stress hormones. Stress hormones block muscle protein synthesis pathways and activate degradation genes, causing muscle fibers to atrophy. While Lycii Cortex has traditionally been used for its antipyretic and tonic properties, its efficacy in preventing and improving skeletal muscle atrophy was previously unknown.

This technology leverages the dual action of Lycii Cortex extract, which reduces the expression of muscle atrophy-inducing genes MuRF-1 and Atrogin-1/MAFbx in myotube cells while increasing the expression of mTOR and AKT, which are involved in muscle protein synthesis. It addresses both qualitative loss, characterized by reduced myotube diameter, and quantitative loss, characterized by a decrease in cell number. The roots, stems, and branches of the goji berry plant can also be used as raw materials. Applicable to health supplements for geriatric sarcopenia, treatments for disuse atrophy in long-term hospitalized or casted patients, and as an adjunct therapy for steroid-induced muscle loss, this natural, plant-based solution simultaneously inhibits protein degradation and promotes synthesis to maintain muscle health.

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Key Features:

• A pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of muscle atrophy, including sarcopenia, disuse muscle atrophy, denervation-induced muscle atrophy, or muscular dystrophy, comprising Lycii Cortex extract as an active ingredient
• A pharmaceutical composition for treating muscle atrophy that reduces the expression of MuRF-1 and Atrogin-1/MAFbx and increases the expression of mTOR and AKT in myotube cells
• A food composition for the prevention or improvement of muscle loss, including qualitative loss due to reduced myotube diameter and quantitative loss due to reduced cell count
• An extraction step of preparing an extract by mixing pulverized dried Lycii Cortex with water, a C1 to C4 lower alcohol, or a mixed solvent thereof

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for research into natural materials for improving skeletal muscle loss.

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