Open Access

ARTICLE

Inhibitory Effect of Ponkan (Citrus reticulata ‘Ponkan’) Flavonoids on Oral Ulcers through Jak2-Stat3 Signaling Pathway

Lili Liu¹, Can Hu⁴, Huilin Cheng¹, Chuangju Ma¹, Jiancheng Sun¹, Yunyi Chen², Manxi Wu², Han Yang², Cui Sun^2,3, Jinping Cao^2,3, Dengliang Wang^1,*, Yue Wang^2,*, Chongde Sun^2,3

1 Quzhou Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Quzhou, 324003, China
2 Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Fruit Science Institute, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
3 Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572025, China
4 Stomatology Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China

* Corresponding Authors: Dengliang Wang. Email: ; Yue Wang. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Phytochemical and Pharmacological Research in Medicinal Plants)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2024, 93(9), 2499-2518. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2024.054449

Received 28 May 2024; Accepted 30 July 2024; Issue published 30 September 2024

Abstract

Oral ulcers, a common mucosal affliction, severely diminish patients’ quality of life due to pain and discomfort. Despite existing treatments, the frequent recurrence of oral ulcers underscores the need for more effective therapeutic options. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Ponkan (Citrus reticulata ‘Ponkan’) extracts and their flavonoid components on oral ulcers, exploring their potential as a natural therapy. Twenty different Ponkan cultivars were selected for flavonoid extraction and analysis. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) were utilized for substance identification, leading to the discovery of 16 flavonoid compounds. Using an oral ulcer model established in Wistar rats, Ponkan extracts were found to effectively reduce ulcer area and pain sensitivity. The study revealed that four polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) were particularly effective in treating oral ulcers, while hesperidin did not show significant improvement. Mechanistic studies indicated that PMFs could inhibit the phosphorylation of Jak2 and Stat3, whereas hesperidin lacked this effect. This research supports the potential use of Ponkan and its flavonoids as a natural and effective alternative therapy for oral ulcers, with a focus on the role of PMFs in modulating the Jak2-Stat3 pathway, highlighting the possibilities for targeted natural treatments.

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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