Analysis of the Aerial Parts of Millettia speciosa Champ. and Mechanistic Study of Its Active Ingredient Formononetin in Improving Metabolic Syndrome.

Millettia speciosa Champ. is a traditional medicinal and edible plant. Its aerial parts are often discarded, leading to resource waste. The aim of this study is to address the effective utilization of the aerial parts of M. speciosa and explore the potential mechanisms by which its active components improve metabolic disorders. HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis identified a total of 41 chemical compounds in the stems, branches, and leaves of M. speciosa. Network pharmacology screening identified formononetin (FMN) as a key compound of M. speciosa. FMN could downregulate the expression of Iba-1 and GFAP in the hypothalamus of metabolic syndrome mice and alleviate neuronal damage in the hypothalamus. It may also improve glycolipid metabolism disorders by inhibiting the central NF-κB signaling pathway. In this study, we preliminarily demonstrated that the aerial parts of M. speciosa have significant medicinal value, providing theoretical guidance for the effective utilization of M. speciosa resources.