• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.277-281
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• 2001

Chromium is an essential nutrient and participates in glucose and lipid metabolism in human beings and animals. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of chromium picolinate (Cr-pic) on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in type I and ll diabetic rats. The experimental groups were type I diabetic (streptozotocin-induced: 40 mg/kg, i.p.) and type II diabetic (Goto-Kakizaki rats) models. Each group was subdivided into control. low-dose and high-dose of Cr-pic treated groups. The Cr-pic was orally administered with Cr-pic (100 mg/kg for low dose group and 200 mg/kg for high dose group) for 4 weeks. And then we performed intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and insulin sensitivity test (ITT). The glucose tolerance test was carried out by inection of glucose (2 g/kg, i.p.). The peripheral insulin sensitivity test was con- ducted by injection of insulin (5 units/kg, s.c.) and glucose. We performed determining of blood glucose concentration at 0, 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min using automated glucose analyzer. The plasma insulin concentration was determined by rat insulin EIA kit. Administration of Cr-pic improved weight gain in all group s with higher significant in the low-dose group. There was no significance between the control and the Cr-pic treated groups in the area under the blood glucose curve and serum insulin concentration plots of IPGTT and peripheral ITT in type I diabetic rats. But Cr-pic treated groups showed significantly lower levels of the area under the blood glucose currie during IPGTT and ITT and the high-dose group showed less effects compared with the low-dose group in the type II diabetic rats. The plasma insulin concentration of both diabetic groups was not influenced by Cr-pic supplementation. We can conclude that chromium picolinate may improve the endogenous and exogenous insulin action and peripheral insulin sensitivity in type II diabetic rats.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.479-497
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) can protect against obesity and obesity-related metabolic conditions. Cryptotanshinone (CT) regulates lipid metabolism and significantly ameliorates insulin resistance. Adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a receptor for cellular energy metabolism, is believed to regulate brown fat activity in humans. MATERIALS/METHODS: The in vivo study included high-fat-fed obese mice administered orally 200/400 mg/kg/d CT. They were evaluated through weight measurement, the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test (IPITT), cold stimulation test, serum lipid (total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein) measurement, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the in vitro study investigated primary adipose mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with incubation of CT and AMPK agonists (acadesine)/inhibitor (Compound C). Cells were evaluated using Oil Red O staining, Alizarin red staining, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence staining to identify and observe the osteogenic versus adipogenic differentiation. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and the Western blot were used to observe related gene expression. RESULTS: In the diet-induced obesity mouse model mice CT suppressed body weight, food intake, glucose levels in the IPGTT and IPTT, serum lipids, the volume of adipose tissue, and increased thermogenesis, uncoupling protein 1, and the AMPK pathway expression. In the in vitro study, CT prevented the formation of lipid droplets from MSCs while activating brown genes and the AMPK pathway. AMPK activator enhanced CT's effects, while the AMPK inhibitor reversed the effects of CT. CONCLUSION: CT promotes adipose tissue browning to increase body thermogenesis and reduce obesity by activating the AMPK pathway. This study provides an experimental foundation for the use of CT in obesity treatment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.364-368
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• 1997

Onion (Allium cepa Linn) has been reported to have hypoglycemic activity in human and several animal models. In the present study, we performed intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) in young (1.5mo) and aged (5 mo) rats treated with onion in order to determine whether aging can influence on the anti-hy-perglycemic effect of onion. In addition, we investigated the hypoglycemic effect of onion in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats treated with aqueous extracts of onion (500 mg/kg, i.p., daily) for 4 weeks. Blood glucose level was determined in fasted and fed rats by using a glucometer (Johnson & Johnson). In glucose tolerance test, blood glucose level was maximally increased 15 min after glucose load (2 g/kg, i.p.), and recovered to the basal level 3 hr after glucose challenge in young and old rats. The maximum blood glucose levels of young and aged rat were 184$\pm$7.49 and 225.2$\pm$ 12.55 mg/dl, respectively. A single i.p. injection of aqueous extract of onion (1 g/kg) 30 min before glucose challenge significantly decreased blood glucose levels at 15, 30, 60, 90 min after glucose load in aged rats, while the administration of onion did not show any significant effect in young rats. In onion-treated diabetic rats, significant hypoglycemic effect (p<0.05) was observed, and the effect was greater in fasted rats than in fed. In conclusion, these results suggest that anti-hyperlycemic effect of onion can be changed by age and fasting.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2022

Objectives: Insulin resistance (IR) is major cause of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and adipokines (e.g., adiponectin, leptin, and resistin) play an important role in insulin sensitivity. Medicinal plants are frequently used for T2D treatment. This study investigates the effect of Artemisia annua L. (AA) extracts on adipokines in mice with high-fat-diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2D. Methods: We divided 60 mice into 12 groups (n = 5 per group): control, untreated T2D, treated T2D, and 9 other groups. T2D was induced in all groups, except controls, by 8 weeks of HFD and STZ injection. The treated T2D group was administered 250 mg/kg of metformin (MTF), while the nine other groups were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of hot-water extract (HWE), cold-water extract (CWE), and alcoholic extract (ALE) of AA (daily oral gavage) along with 250 mg/kg of MTF for 4 weeks. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed, and the homeostasis model assessment of adiponectin (HOMA-AD) index and blood glucose and serum insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin levels were measured. Results: Similar to MTF, all three types of AA extracts (HWEs, CWEs, and ALEs) significantly (p < 0.0001) decreased the area under the curve (AUC) of glucose during the IPGTT, the HOMA-AD index, blood glucose levels, and serum insulin, leptin, and resistin levels and increased serum adiponectin levels in the MTF group compared to the T2D group (p < 0.0001). The HWEs affected adipokine release, while the CWEs and ALEs decreased leptin and resistin production. Conclusion: Water and alcoholic AA extracts have an antihyperglycemic and antihyperinsulinemic effect on HFD/STZ diabetic mice. In addition, they decrease IR by reducing leptin and resistin production and increasing adiponectin secretion from adipocytes.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.129-144
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• 2002

We investigated anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obese effects of Panax ginseng berry extract and its major constituent, ginsenoside Re, in obese diabetic C57BL/6J ob/ob mice and their lean littermates. Animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of Panax ginseng berry extract for 12 days. On Day 5, 150 mg/kg extract-treated ob/ob mice had significantly lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to vehicle-treated mice $(156{\pm}9.0\;mg/dl\;vs.\;243{\pm}15.8mg/dl,$ P<0.01). On Day 12, the extract-treated ob/ob mice became normoglycemic $(137{\pm}6.7\;mg/dl)$ and had significantly improved glucose tolerance. The overall glucose excursion during the two-hour intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), calculated as area under the curve (AUC), decreased by $46\%$ (P<0.01) compared to vehicle-treated ob/ob mice. Glucose levels of lean mice were not significantly affected by the extract. The improvement in blood glucose levels in 150 mg/kg extracttreated ob/ob mice was associated with significant reduction in serum insulin levels of fed and fasting mice. Consistent with an improvement in insulin sensitivity, hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp study revealed a more than 2-fold increase in the rate of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in treated ob/ob mice $(112{\pm}19.1\;vs.\;52{\pm}11.8{\mu}mol/kg/min$ for the vehicle group, P<0.01). In addition, 150 mg/kg extract-treated ob/ob mice, but not the lean mice, lost significant weight (from $51.7{\pm}1.9g\;on\;Day\;0\;to\;45.7{\pm}1.2$ on Day 12, P<0.01 compared to vehicle-treated ob/ob mice), associated with a significant reduction in food intake (P<0.05) and a very significant increase in energy expenditure (P<0.01) and body temperature (P<0.01). A 12-day treatment with 150 mg/kg Panax ginseng berry extract also significantly reduced plasma cholesterol levels in ob/ob mice. Additional studies demonstrated that ginsenoside Re, a major constituent of the ginseng berry, but not from the root, plays a significant role in anti-hyperglycemic action. This anti-diabetic effect of ginsenoside Re was not associated with body weight changes, suggesting that other constituents in the extract have distinct pharmacological mechanisms on energy metabolism. The identification of a significant anti-hyperglycemic activity in ginsenoside Re may provide an opportunity to develop a novel class of anti-diabetic agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to determine the possible additive effects of endurance exercise training (EXER) and selenium (SELE) on the improvements of glucose and lactate transport capacities in diabetic Goto-kakizaki rats. Animals either remained sedentary control (SED) or performed EXER or received SELE [$5{\mu}mol$ kg body wt (-1) day (-1)], or underwent both EXER and SELE (COMBI), which lasted for 6 wk. Compared with sedentary control, EXER alone or the SELE alone group, or the combined treatment group had significant reduction in glucose response measured at 90 min and 120 min during an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and body weight after 6week treatment. EXER alone, or combined group individually had significantly higher glycogen contents in liver compared with SED or SELE groups. EXER alone increased glycogen content in soleus and plantaris compared with SED, and this parameter was increased to greatest extent in the combined treatment groups compared with SED or SELE groups. EXER alone, SELE alone or COMBI, caused significant decreases in the plasma lactates, serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol and HOMA-IR along with a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with SED. In addition, EXER or COMBI individually had significantly lower serum triacylglycerol compared with SED or SELE. With respect to protein expression related to glucose and lactate transport capacities, EXER alone, SELE alone, or COMBI increased in MCT1 and MCT4 protein level in soleus and plantaris. Furthermore, EXER alone, SELE alone or COMBI caused significant increases in mt MCT1 protein level in soleus and plantaris. The findings of the current study suggest that endurance exercise training and selenium treatment may provide therapeutic values to type II diabetic patients with peripheral insulin resistance and hyperlactatecemia by improving glucose and lactate transport capacities, leading to improvements in plasma lactate, serum glucose, insulin and lipid profiles (TC, TG, HDL).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2004

The effects of herbal medicine on type 2 diabetic animal model were investigated. Herbal medicine were composed with the addition of Coicis Semen into Okchun-san (OCS). Commelinae Herba into Gangsim-tang (GST). Scrophulariae Radix into Hyunsamsunki-san (HSK). and Erythrinae Cortex into Yukmijihuang-hwan (YMH). We evaluated anti-hyperglycemic and body weight reduction activity in diabetic db/db mice. The experimental animals were divided into six groups. as control group and five sample groups. Each 200mg/kg/day of OCS, GST, HSK and YMH was administered with orally for 14days long. 5mg/kg/day of acarbose was administered with orally for 14days long. On day 14, OCS-treated db/db mice had significantly lower fasting blood glucose levels compared to control group(296±25.9 versus 593±16.4mg/dl. p<0.001). During the 2 h intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), all the sample groups were improved compared to control group but insignificantly. After 14days of extract treatment. body weight in control. YMH and acarbose groups were increased. but OCS. GST and HSK groups reduced. However. it did not significantly lower hemoglobin Alc(HbAlc) in blood of db/db mice. These result suggest that OCS could be effective on insulin-independent type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.401-410
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• 2016

Purpose: Water is magnetically charged upon contact with a magnet. Although magnetic water products have been promoted since the 1930's, they have not received wide acceptance since their effectiveness is still in question; however, some have reported their therapeutic effects on the body, especially the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. Methods: In this study, the effect of magnetized water on glycemic control of 14 diabetic mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/db) in comparison with 10 control mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/+(db/+)) was investigated. Seven diabetic control (DMC) mice and seven diabetic mice + magnetized water (DM+MW) were kept for 16 weeks, followed by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). Weekly blood glucose was measured from tail veins. Blood obtained from heart puncture was used for HbA1c analysis. Results: Blood glucose level showed a significant difference starting from the $10^{th}$ week of study ($496.1{\pm}10.2mg/dl$ in DMC vs. $437.9{\pm}76.9mg/dl$ in DM+MW). Blood glucose followed by IPGTT showed no significant difference between groups at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min, although glucose level at 180 min was significantly reduced in DM+MW mice. Plasma insulin level in DM+MW groups was only 39.5% of that of DMC groups ($5.97{\pm}1.69ng/ml$ in DMC vs. $2.36{\pm}0.94ng/ml$ in DM+MW). Levels of HbA1c were 12.4% and 9.7% in DMC and DM+MW groups, respectively. Conclusion: These results show the promising therapeutic effect of magnetized water in regulating blood glucose homeostasis; however, long-term supplementation or mechanistic study is necessary.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.550-558
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• 2017

The effect of Artemisia argyi H. under liquid-state fermentation by Monascus purpureus (AAFM) on cognitive impairments has been studied in a mice model of diabetes-associated cognitive decline induced by streptozotocin (STZ). C57BL/6 mice (9 weeks of age, male) were separated into four groups: a normal control, STZ-induced diabetic mouse group (STZ group), Artemisia argyi H. (AA) 10 group (diabetic mouse+AA 10 mg/kg/day), AAFM 10 group (diabetic mouse+AAFM 10 mg/kg/day). Administration of AA and AAFM significantly improved glucose tolerance, as shown by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), and ameliorated cognitive deficit, as shown by the behavioral tests including passive avoidance, Morris water maze, and Y-maze tests. After behavioral tests, the cholinergic system was examined by assessment of the acetylcholine (ACh) level and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, and the antioxidant system was also assessed by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the brain and liver.