OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule (DJC) and exercise on islet beta-cell function index (HOMA-% beta), blood glucose, and oxidative stress of diabetic rats.

METHODSA diabetic rat model was established using low dose streptozotocin and high fat forage in 60 male Wistar rats. The effects of exercise, DJC, and DJC combined exercise on the serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), as well as the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the pancreatic tissue were observed. The HOMA-%beta was also calculated. The main factors that affecting HOMA-%beta were explored using multi-factor regression analysis.

RESULTSCompared with model group, the levels of FBG, TG, TC, and pancreatic MDA were significantly reduced after intervention of exercise or DJC (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while HOMA-% beta obviously increased (P < 0.01). The pancreatic GSH-Px activity significantly increased in the exercise group (P < 0.01). Exercise and DJC had synergistic effects on FBG, TG, HOMA-% beta, pancreatic SOD, and GSH-Px activities (P < 0.05). There was a negative and linear regression correlation between FBG and pancreatic SOD and GSHPx activities. HOMA-%beta was negatively correlated with FBG, TG, TC, and pancreatic MDA content, and positively correlated with SOD and GSH-Px activities. Besides, there was a linear regression correlation between HOMA-%beta and FBG.

CONCLUSIONExercise and DJC played synergistic effects, could improve the glucose and lipid metabolisms and enhance antioxidant activities, thus relieving the injury of pancreatic beta cells.