Inhibition of advanced glycation end products by Isovitexin alleviates intestinal damage: Toward dietary strategies for gut health.

Isovitexin (ISV), a naturally occurring flavonoid C-glycoside predominantly found in food plants, has not yet been fully elucidated for its anti-glycation activity and gut-protective effects. This study comprehensively evaluated the inhibitory effect of ISV on advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and its protective effects on the intestine using complementary approaches: in vitro models (chemical assays and human Caco-2 cells) and the in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. Results demonstrated that ISV effectively inhibited AGEs formation in bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glucose (Glu)/methylglyoxal (MGO)/glyoxal (GO) models by binding bovine serum albumin, preserving protein conformation and functional groups. In C. elegans, ISV reduced AGEs accumulation, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and improved intestinal barrier function. In Caco-2 cells, ISV alleviated MGO-induced cytotoxicity, upregulated tight junction proteins, and suppressed oxidative stress and apoptosis. These findings indicate that ISV holds promise as a functional food ingredient for inhibiting AGEs formation and improving intestinal health.