• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2019

Introduction: Oxidative stress (OS) during uncontrolled hyperglycemia has a pivotal role in pancreatic dysfunction. Our study aimed to demonstrate that crocin can potentiate anti-oxidant defense systems of pancreatic cells to improve oxidative stress. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into four groups: a normal group, a normal-treated group, a diabetic group and a diabetic-treated group (n = 6 rats per group). Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg/IV). The treated groups received crocin daily for 8 weeks (40 mg/kg/IP). At the end of the experiment, rats were sacrificed and pancreas tissue was obtained. Subsequently, the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrate and glutathione as well as the enzymatic activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in all animals. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA with appropriate post hoc testing and a probability value of P < 0.05 was considered to represent a statistically significant difference in mean values. Results: Uncontrolled hyperglycemia weakened the anti-oxidant system by decreasing SOD and catalase enzyme activity in pancreatic tissues and induced OS by increasing the MDA content in diabetic non-treated animals. Crocin potentiated the anti-oxidant defense system by increasing the activity of both SOD and catalase, and improved OS by diminishing MDA production in pancreatic cells of rats contained in the diabetic-treated group. Conclusion: Based on our results, it is concluded that uncontrolled hyperglycemia can weaken the anti-oxidant defense system and cause the development of OS. Also, crocin can improve OS in pancreatic cells by potentiating the anti-oxidant defense system.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.39-46
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• 2017

Objective : This study was designed to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of Helianthus tuberosi Rhizoma extracts and its optimum Heat processing conditions Methods : We investigated the Salivary ${\alpha}$-amylase, pancreas ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities of extracts from Steam Heated Helianthus tuberosi Rhizoma Ext. The inhibitory activities of a 50% EtOH extract of Steam Heated Helianthus tuberosi Rhizoma Ext against ${\alpha}$-glucosidases were evaluated in this study. Inhibiting these enzymes involved in the absorption of disaccharides significantly decreases the postprandial increase in blood glucose level after a mixed carbohydrate diet. Furthermore, the postprandial blood glucose lowering effect of Steam Heated Helianthus tuberosi Rhizoma Ext. was compared to a known type 2 diabetes drug(Acarbose(R)) in a mice model. Steam Heated Helianthus tuberosus L. Ext significantly reduced the blood glucose increase after glucose loading. Results : The results were confirmed by real-time PCR that after treated with Streptozotocin in L6 cells, induced expression of GLUT4, after the steamed Helianthus tuberosus L. Ext. treated, observed its expression was increased. Steam Heated Helianthus tuberosus L Ext treated 4 hours in L6 cells, cytotoxicity was measured in MTT assay. Its toxicity were 5.7%, 9% and 11.3% at the treatment concentration $12.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, $25{\mu}g/m{\ell}$, the $50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ respectively. Conclusions : Overall, the results of this study indicate that Hypoglycemic effect of Helianthus tuberosi Rhizoma caused by the Steam heat treatment, the optimum Heat processing condition is steamming at $121^{\circ}C$ for 30 min, and it will provide the basis for developing a useful dietary supplement for controlling postprandial hyperglycemia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.511-517
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• 1992

The hypoglycemic effects of Korean wild vegetables : Capsella bursa-pastoris Medicus(CBM) Commelina communis L. (CCL) Calystegics japonica Choisy(CJC) Discorea japonica Thunb(DJT) and Persicaria perfolidata Gross(PPG) in diabetic rats were determined. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley diabetic rats(130~180g) induced by the streptozotocin (45mg/kg) injection into the tail vein were fed either a control or experimental diets for four weeks. The plasma levels of glucose and cholesterol were measured. The urinary glucose levels were monitored. Crude fiber mineral(Ca, Fe, Zn and Cr) and ascorbic acid contents of the wild vegetables were analyzed. The extents of blood glucose decrement in CCL. DJT or PPG fed rats were greater than that in the control group. This extents of decrement in CBM or CJC fed rats were not significan-tly different from that in the control group. The urinary glucose was shown to be negative to Band reagent strip in CCL or DJT group at the 4th week. The plasma cholesterol levels of all the groups including control group were not essentially different. It is suggested that the intakes of CCL or DJT could be useful for prevetive and therapeutic approches to alleviate the hyperglycemic status in diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.186-200
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• 2000

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of Indongdeungjikolpitang water extract(IJTE) on the complication of diabetes. IJTE did not affect the level of blood glucose in alloxan- or streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic mice, but inhibited the motility of gastrointestine. IJTE inhibited the writhing syndrome induced by acetic acid, the permeability of evans blue into peritoneal cavity induced by acetic acid, the paw edema induced by histamine, and the formation of cotton pellet granuloma. IJTE increased the cell viability of thymocytes and splenocytes. IJTE decreased the release of ${\gamma}-interferone$(${\gamma}-IFN$) and interleukin-2(IL-2), but did not affect the release of interleukin-4(IL-4) from murine thymocytes. IJTE increased the release of IL-4 and decreased the release of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$($TNF-{\alpha}$) and $interleukin-1{\beta}$($IL-1{\beta}$), but did not affect of ${\gamma}-IFN$ and IL-2 from murine splenocytes. IJTE decreased the release of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$ from murine peritoneal macrophages. IJTE decreased the production of niric oxide(NO) from murine peritioneal macrophages and increased the phagocytic activity of murine peritoneal macrophages. These results suggest that IJTE has an anti-inflammatory action via the inhibition of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ and NO production from immune cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.289-294
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• 2017

Diabetes mellitus is associated with insulin resistance, which leads to down-regulation of insulin signaling and the decreased glucose uptake. Adipocytes are sensitive to insulin, and closely implicated in insulin resistance and diabetes. Insulin stimulates differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes, and increases glucose transport. Allium species have been used as traditional medicine and health-promoting foods. Allium hookeri (A. hookeri) is reported to improve the pancreatic ${\beta}-cell$ damage and exhibit pancreatic anti-inflammatory activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We investigated whether A. hookeri extract (AHE) may stimulate glucose uptake in adipocytes through increasing insulin sensitivity. AHE enhanced fat accumulation, a differentiation biomarker, under the partial induction of differentiation by insulin. $PPAR{\gamma}$, a transcription factor highly expressed in adipocytes, promotes adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity. AHE increased the differentiation of preadipocytes through up-regulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$. The activation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ increases the GLUT4 expression during adipocyte differentiation. GLUT4 is responsible for glucose uptake into the adipocytes. AHE increased the expression of GLUT4 in adipocytes, and subsequently enhanced the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. These results suggest that AHE promotes adipocyte differentiation through activation of $PPAR{\gamma}$, and leads to enhance glucose uptake in adipocytes along with GLUT4 up-regulation. Thus, AHE may be effective for the insulin-sensitizing and anti-diabetic activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 2018

Postprandial hyperglycemia plays an important role in the development of Type 2 Diabetes and diabetic complications. Controlling postprandial hyperglycemia is the most important factor for reducing the risks of diabetic complications in Type 2 diabetic patients. This study was designed to determine whether Portulaca oleracea L. extract suppresses the activation of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, and lowers postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetic mice through streptozotocin. P. oleracea was extracted with either 80% ethanol (PEE) or water (PWE), and the extract solutions were concentrated. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibition assays were performed using the chromogenic method. Normal mice and STZ-induced diabetic mice were orally treated with PEE, PWE (300 mg/kg of body weight) or acarbose (100 mg/kg of body weight), with soluble starch (2 g/kg of body weight). The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory effectiveness by PEE were markedly more effective than PWE, and both extracts indicated a higher effectiveness than the acarbose (positive control). The rise in postprandial blood glucose due to starch loading was markedly inhibited in the PEE group when compared to the control group in diabetic and normal mice. Furthermore, the area under the concentration-time curve values were markedly declined by the PEE injection in the diabetic group when compared to that exerted for the control group. These results demonstrate that P. oleracea extracts lower postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, and that the ethanol extract is more efficacious than the water extract.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is more frequently diagnosed and is characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. $\small{D}$-xylose, a sucrase inhibitor, may be useful as a functional sugar complement to inhibit increases in blood glucose levels. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of $\small{D}$-xylose both in vitro and stretpozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide (NA)-induced models in vivo. MATERIALS/METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: (i) normal control; (ii) diabetic control; (iii) diabetic rats supplemented with a diet where 5% of the total sucrose content in the diet was replaced with $\small{D}$-xylose; and (iv) diabetic rats supplemented with a diet where 10% of the total sucrose content in the diet was replaced with $\small{D}$-xylose. These groups were maintained for two weeks. The effects of $\small{D}$-xylose on blood glucose levels were examined using oral glucose tolerance test, insulin secretion assays, histology of liver and pancreas tissues, and analysis of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCK) expression in liver tissues of a STZ-NA-induced experimental rat model. Levels of glucose uptake and insulin secretion by differentiated C2C12 muscle cells and INS-1 pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells were analyzed. RESULTS: In vivo, $\small{D}$-xylose supplementation significantly reduced fasting serum glucose levels (P < 0.05), it slightly reduced the area under the glucose curve, and increased insulin levels compared to the diabetic controls. $\small{D}$-xylose supplementation enhanced the regeneration of pancreas tissue and improved the arrangement of hepatocytes compared to the diabetic controls. Lower levels of PEPCK were detected in the liver tissues of $\small{D}$-xylose-supplemented rats (P < 0.05). In vitro, both 2-NBDG uptake by C2C12 cells and insulin secretion by INS-1 cells were increased with $\small{D}$-xylose supplementation in a dose-dependent manner compared to treatment with glucose alone. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, $\small{D}$-xylose exerted anti-diabetic effects in vivo by regulating blood glucose levels via regeneration of damaged pancreas and liver tissues and regulation of PEPCK, a key rate-limiting enzyme in the process of gluconeogenesis. In vitro, $\small{D}$-xylose induced the uptake of glucose by muscle cells and the secretion of insulin cells by ${\beta}$-cells. These mechanistic insights will facilitate the development of highly effective strategy for T2D.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.3.1-3.14
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• 2018

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a pathological condition associated with osteopenia. $WNT/{\beta}$-catenin signaling is implicated in this process. Trabecular and cortical bone respond differently to $WNT/{\beta}$-catenin signaling in healthy mice. We investigated whether this signaling has different effects on trabecular and cortical bone in T1DM. We first established a streptozotocin-induced T1DM mouse model and then constitutively activated ${\beta}$-catenin in osteoblasts in the setting of T1DM (T1-CA). The extent of bone loss was greater in trabecular bone than that in cortical bone in T1DM mice, and this difference was consistent with the reduction in the expression of ${\beta}$-catenin signaling in the two bone compartments. Further experiments demonstrated that in T1DM mice, trabecular bone showed lower levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) than the levels in cortical bone, leading to lower $WNT/{\beta}$-catenin signaling activity through the inhibition of the IGF-1R/Akt/glycogen synthase kinase $3{\beta}$ ($GSK3{\beta}$) pathway. After ${\beta}$-catenin was activated in T1-CA mice, the bone mass and bone strength increased to substantially greater extents in trabecular bone than those in cortical bone. In addition, the cortical bone of the T1-CA mice displayed an unexpected increase in bone porosity, with increased bone resorption. The downregulated expression of WNT16 might be responsible for these cortical bone changes. In conclusion, we found that although the activation of $WNT/{\beta}$-catenin signaling increased the trabecular bone mass and bone strength in T1DM mice, it also increased the cortical bone porosity, impairing the bone strength. These findings should be considered in the future treatment of T1DM-related osteopenia.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of processed sulfur with red ginseng on streptozotocin(STZ) induced diabetic rats for expansion of processed sulfur internal application. Methods : We prepared red ginseng with non processed sulfur extracts(GS), red ginseng with processed sulfur I extracts(GPS I) and red ginseng with processed sulfur II extracts(GPS II). In the present study, we examined about contents of crdue saponin, antioxidant activity, $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and effects of STZ induced diabetic rats. Results : Contents of crude saponin increased by processed sulfur, and GPS II was shown highest contents in crude saponin and sulfur compared with another groups. Electron donating ability of GPS II was shown highest activity compared with GS and GPS I, SOD-like activity showed same tendency as electron donating ability at 1 $mg/m\ell$ concentration. Inhibitory activity of $\alpha$-glucosidase was approximately same level in acarbose and GPS II. Blood glucose level of GPS II group was decreased 18.34% compared with DC(diabetes control) group and maintained stability range in glucose level. but GS and GPS I showed high level compared to GPS II. Serum triglycerides concentration also showed lowest level in GPS II. The activity of ALT, AST and ALP was shown high level in diabetic induced groups, and lowest level in GPS II. Creatinine was shown non-significantly difference in each groups and GPS II was shown lowest level in BUN. Conclusions : These results suggested that processed sulfur with red ginseng have improvement effects on diabetes and internal application of processed sulfur with red ginseng have no specific toxicity in liver and kidney.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.1554-1559
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of single and repeated oral administration of medicinal herbal mixture (AD) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Angelica decursiva, Lycium chinense and Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara were selected by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and mixed for AD mixture. In an oral glucose tolerance test, the AD inhibited the increase in blood glucose levels at 1 hr and 2 hr and decreased incremental glycemic response area under the curve. In a single administration of AD1 (100 mg/kg) and AD2 (500 mg/kg), significant reductions by 5.3% and 12.3% were observed in fasting blood glucose level for 4 hours. During the 1 month of the experimental period, AD1 and AD2 was given to the STZ induced diabetic rats. At 4th week, the fasting blood glucose levels of AD1 and AD2 caused a fall of 25.5% and 37.9%, respectively. In addition, the body weights were decreased by 7.7% (AD1) and 1.7% (AD2), respectively, compared with diabetic control (DC, decreasing of 10.2%). This study suggests that AD could be potentially useful for fasting and post-prandial hyperglycemia treatment and all these effects concluded to the use of this plant extract to manage diabetes mellitus.