Ferulic acid enhances insulin secretion by potentiating L-type Ca2+ channel activation

• Published in: Journal of integrative medicine Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 99 - 105
• Main Authors: Ruamyod, Katesirin, Watanapa, Wattana B., Kakhai, Chanrit, Nambundit, Pimchanok, Treewaree, Sukrit, Wongsanupa, Parin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Calcium channels, L-type; Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Ferulic acid; Insulin; Insulin-secreting cells; Patch-clamp techniques; Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Patch-clamp techniques; Insulin; Insulin-secreting cells; Calcium channels, L-type; Ferulic acid
• ISSN: 2095-4964
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2022.11.003

To investigate the effect of ferulic acid, a natural compound, on pancreatic beta cell viability, Ca2+ channels, and insulin secretion. We studied the effects of ferulic acid on rat insulinoma cell line viability using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide viability assay. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were also used to examine the action of ferulic acid on Ca2+ channels and insulin secretion, respectively. Ferulic acid did not affect cell viability during exposures up to 72 h. The electrophysiological study demonstrated that ferulic acid rapidly and concentration-dependently increased L-type Ca2+ channel current, shifting its activation curve in the hyperpolarizing direction with a decreased slope factor, while the voltage dependence of inactivation was not affected. On the other hand, ferulic acid have no effect on T-type Ca2+ channels. Furthermore, ferulic acid significantly increased insulin secretion, an effect inhibited by nifedipine and Ca2+-free extracellular fluid, confirming that ferulic acid-induced insulin secretion in these cells was mediated by augmenting Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channel. Our data also suggest that this may be a direct, nongenomic action. This is the first electrophysiological demonstration that acute ferulic acid treatment could increase L-type Ca2+ channel current in pancreatic β cells by enhancing its voltage dependence of activation, leading to insulin secretion.