A Study on the glucose‐regulating Enzyme Activities of Water Extracts from Korea Medicinal Herbs

Abstract

This study investigated the anti‐diabetic effects of water extracts from Korea medicinal herbs on hepatic glucose‐regulating enzymes, such as acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) and glucokinase (GK). The hepatic cytosol faction of a type ? diabetic animal (GK rat, Goto‐kakizaki) was used in acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) and glucokinase (GK) activity assays. Type 2 diabetes generally characterized by non‐insulin‐dependent hyperglycemia in early stages and the therapeutic approach available is by retarding absorption of glucose through the inhibition of α‐glucosidase enzyme in the intestinal. Thus α‐glucosidase inhibition assay was assayed. The Korea medicinal herbs were Salvia miltiorrhiza (DS), , Panax notoginsengs (JC), Lycium chinense (JGP), Dioscorea japonica (SY), R. glutinosa (SJH), Pyrus pyrifolia fructus (YSB), Cucumis melo var. makuwa stem (CWJ), Coix lachrymajobi var. mayuen (YM), Cornus officinalis (SSY), Paeonia suffruticosa (MDP), Cordyceps sinensis (DCH), Acanthopanax senticosus (GSO). The ACC activity in cytosol fraction of liver was higher in the 0.01mg/ml DCH water extract than that of the control and SSY water extract significantly increased the GK activity. YSB, MDP, GSO water extracts had high α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity and the effect was higher than that of acarbose (reference α‐glucosidase inhibitor).These observations suggest that DCH, SSY, YSB, MDP and GSO water extracts are the effective candidates for preventing type 2 diabetes.