Effect of Asperagillus awamori on Alloxan-induced Mouse Hyperglycemia

Shota Masuda,Noriyoshi Masuoka,Ryusei Miura,Takumi Hirao,Yoshinao Okachi,Takayuki Murakami,Junji Inoue,Kosuke Matsuoka,Shunya Miyoshi,Kohji Ishihara

doi:10.5539/jfr.v6n6p29

Abstract

Problem statement: Though alloxan-induced mouse hyperglycemia was ameliorated by feeding of 5 % Asperagillus awamori (A. awamori)-fermented burdock root diet (fermented burdock diet), it is unclear whether the anti-hyperglycemia activity is due to A. awamori or antioxidant activity induced by the fermentation.Methods: A 0.05 % A. awamori diet was prepared. Acatalasemic mice, having a quite low catalase activity in blood, were divided three groups, and each group fed control, A. awamori and the fermented burdock diets for 14 weeks, separately. Then, alloxan monohydrate (200 mg/ kg of body weight) was intraperitoneally administrated to each mouse. Glucose, insulin, C-peptide contents in blood and glucose tolerance tests (GTTs) were examined. Results: Incidence of alloxan-induced hyperglycemia in acatalasemic mice maintained with the A. awamori diet or the fermented burdock diet was low (20 or 25%) compared to that (75%) maintained with the control diet. Feeding the A. awamori diet ameliorated insulin, C-peptide in blood and GTT like as mice fed the fermented burdock diet. It indicated that A. awamori in these diets plays an important role for the prevention of alloxan-induced hyperglycemia.Conclusions: It is suggested that A. awamori has the anti-hyperglycemia activity.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia, more than a desirable level of glucose in blood (Taylor, 1995)
Incidence of alloxan-induced hyperglycemia in acatalasemic mice maintained with the A. awamori diet or the fermented burdock diet was low (20 or 25%) compared to that (75%) maintained with the control diet
As we found that acatalasemia mice induced diabetes mellitus with smaller amount of alloxan than normal mice, we pursued anti-hyperglycemia compounds using alloxan-induced acatalasemic mice (Takemoto et al, 2009; Kamimura et al, 2013)

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia, more than a desirable level of glucose in blood (Taylor, 1995). Alloxan is a diabetogenic drug for animals, and alloxan with reducing agents in the body generates reactive oxygen species to induce oxidative stress. These oxygen species selectively injure β-cells in the pancreas so as to cause hyperglycemia as like diabetes Type 1 (Szkudelski, 2001; Lenzen, 2008). Artium lappa, is a popular vegetable in Japan and Korea. It contains a considerable amount of polyphenols such as chlorogenic acid, caffeoylquinic acid, hydroxycinnamoylquinic acids and related compounds and indicates antioxidant activity (Maruta, Kawabata & Niki, 1995; Lin & Harnly, 2008).

Methods

Results

Conclusion