The antidiabetic effects of an herbal formula composed of Alnus hirsuta, Rosa davurica, Acanthopanax senticosus and Panax schinseng in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
- Author:
Weicheng HU
1
;
Jin Hee YEO
;
Yunyao JIANG
;
Seong Il HEO
;
Myeong Hyeon WANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Antidiabetic; hyperglycemia; immunohistochemistry; multi-herbal formula; streptozotocin
- MeSH: Eleutherococcus; Alnus; Animals; Body Weight; Diabetes Mellitus; Drinking; Drug Industry; Eating; Food Supply; Glucose; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Immunohistochemistry; Insulin; Islets of Langerhans; Male; Panax; Pancreas; Polydipsia; Prescriptions; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rosa; Streptozocin; Triglycerides
- From:Nutrition Research and Practice 2013;7(2):103-108
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: A folk prescription consisting of Alnus hirsuta, Rosa davurica, Acanthopanax senticosus and Panax schinseng has been used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the antidiabetic effects of the herb formula extract (HFE) composed of Alnus hirsuta, Rosa davurica, Acanthopanax senticosus and Panax schinseng in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The HFE was mixed in the food supply of the healthy and STZ-induced diabetic male Sprague-Dawley rats, and its effects on the body weight, water and food intake, hyperglycemia, hypolipidemic and islet structure were studied. The treatment of the rats with STZ for 6 weeks resulted in marasmus, polydipsia, polyphagia, hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia. In addition, the diabetic rats showed an apparent decrease in the insulin immunoreactivity and the number of beta-cells in the pancreas. The addition of the HFE to the rats' food supply significantly lowered the serum glucose and the serum triglycerides level and preserved the normal histological appearance of the pancreatic islets. These results indicate that the HEF have a strong antidiabetic potential along with the significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, which may be applicable in the pharmaceutical industry.
