Investigating the Effect of Mayapple Extract on Glucose Uptake in Skeletal Muscle Cells
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Authors
Huggler, Calvin
Jacot, Katelyn
Psetas, Elena
Issue Date
2025-04-03
Type
Animation
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Description
The Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) is a perennial plant native to North America,
commonly found in wooded areas. Its roots and rhizomes have long been valued in traditional
medicine and have more recently been used as a source for chemotherapy drugs such as
etoposide. Preliminary research into Mayapple extracts has identified compounds with
pharmacological potential beyond their current applications. Specifically, early screenings of
extracts from the fruit have suggested a possible effect on glucose uptake, which could be of
interest for addressing conditions related to glucose metabolism. The current research aims to
evaluate the effect of extracts from the Mayapple plant on glucose uptake in mouse C2C12 and
rat L6 skeletal muscle cells. To do this, C2C12 and L6 cells are plated in 96-well plates and
allowed to differentiate into mature muscle cells. Once differentiated, cells are exposed to
various treatments, including a negative control, insulin as a positive control and various
Mayapple extracts. Following treatment, cells are incubated with luminescent glucose (Glucose
Uptake Glo Assay, Promega) and uptake can then be assessed by measuring luminescence via
the SpectraMax i3 microplate reader. Data collection is in progress, but it is hypothesized that
introducing Mayapple extracts will enhance glucose uptake in C2C12 and L6 skeletal muscle
cells. If confirmed, these findings could have significant implications for the development of
future interventions targeting glucose metabolism disorders, potentially paving the way for
therapeutic alternatives that reduce dependency on exogenous insulin