Abstract
Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang (DBT), a Chinese medicinal decoction contains Radix Angelicae sinensis (Danggui) and Radix Astragali (Huangqi) at a ratio of 1 : 5, is used commonly for treating women's ailments. This study was conducted to explore the effects of this preparation on insulin resistance in rats fed with 6-week diet containing 60% fructose. Similar to the action of rosiglitazone (4 mg kg−1 per day by an oral administration), repeated oral administration of DBT (2.5 g kg−1 per day) for 14 days was found to significantly alleviate the hyperglycemia but made no influence on plasma lipid profiles nor weight gain in fructose chow-fed rats. Also, the higher degree of insulin resistance as measured by homeostasis model assessment of basal insulin resistance in fructose chow-fed rats was significantly decreased by repeated DBT treatment. DBT displays the characteristic of rosiglitazone by increasing the whole-body insulin sensitivity in fructose chow-fed rats after 2-week treatment, as evidenced by the marked elevation of composite whole-body insulin sensitivity index during the oral glucose tolerance test. DBT improves insulin sensitivity through increased post-receptor insulin signaling mediated by enhancements in insulin receptor substrate-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase step and glucose transporter subtype 4 translocation in soleus muscles of animals exhibiting insulin resistance. DBT is therefore proposed as potentially useful adjuvant therapy for patients with insulin resistance and/or the patients who wish to increase insulin sensitivity.
Highlights
Insulin resistance, a metabolic disorder raised seriously around the world, characterized by a diminished ability of insulin-sensitive tissues and a marked decrease of glucose metabolism in response to insulin resulting from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors, is associated with some common diseases including type-2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and coronary heart disease [1]
Following the administration of Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang (DBT) at daily oral dosage of 2.5 g kg−1 for 14 consecutive days, plasma glucose levels in fructose chow-fed rats fell to a value significantly lower than that from their vehicle-treated counterparts (P < .05), showing a plasma glucose-lowering activity of 13.4 ± 3.1% (Table 1)
It has been established that insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension and hyperlipidemia are associated with fructose intake in animal models [10]
Summary
A metabolic disorder raised seriously around the world, characterized by a diminished ability of insulin-sensitive tissues and a marked decrease of glucose metabolism in response to insulin resulting from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors, is associated with some common diseases including type-2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and coronary heart disease [1]. Thiazolidinediones (TZD), agonists of the peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor (PPAR)γ, enhance insulin sensitivity and improve metabolic control in patients with type-2 diabetes [3]. Efforts have been mounted to generate modulators that retain the beneficial clinical effects while avoiding these side effects. It seems, that development of new agents may be helpful in the therapy of diabetic patients with insulin resistance
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