Effect of Burdock Root and the Fermented Product on Alloxan-Induced Mouse Hyperglycemia

Wakana Doi,Chihiro Mori,Ayaka Ohno,Takaya Agarie,Yoshiko Okuda,Kohji Ishihara,Shota Masuda,Yumi Asada,Takayuki Murakami,Noriyoshi Masuoka,Ayano Matsumoto

doi:10.5539/jfr.v4n4p10

Abstract

Backgrounds: We reported that feeding 5% Asperagillus awamori-fermented burdock root diet was effective in preventing mouse hyperglycemia caused by alloxan. Methods: Diets containing 5% burdock roots were prepared from raw and Asperagillus awamori-fermented burdock root powders. Acatalasemic mice, having a quite low catalase activity in blood, and normal mice were fed these diets for 14 weeks, separately. Then, alloxan (200 mg/ kg of body weight) or PBS was intraperitoneally administrated to each mouse. After 5 day from the administration, blood glucose assay and glucose tolerance test were carried out, and then insulin, C-peptide and lipid peroxide in plasma were examined. Results: Incidences of hyperglycemia in normal mice fed control, raw and fermented burdock root diets were 25, 20 and 11 %, respectively, and these in acatalasemic mice were 73, 80 and 27%. Insulin and C-peptide in plasma of mice fed raw burdock root diet or control diet were low compared to mice fed the fermented diet. Conclusions: Intake of raw burdock root does not suppress the alloxan-induced hyperglycemia but the fermented burdock root does. It is suggested that Asperagillus awamori plays an important role for the prevention.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia, more than a desirable level of glucose in blood (Taylor, 1995)
Insulin and C-peptide in plasma of mice fed raw burdock root diet or control diet were low compared to mice fed the fermented diet
It is suggested that Asperagillus awamori plays an important role for the prevention

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 generated reactive oxygen species These species cause oxidative stress and selectively injure β-cells in the pancreas so as to cause hyperglycemia as like diabetes Type 1 (Szkudelski, 2001; Lenzen, 2008). When mice were fed the Aspergillus awamori-fermented diet, hyperglycemia induced by alloxan was ameliorated (Takemoto, Doi, Zukeran, Inoue, Ishihara, & Masuoka, 2014) like as the intake of antioxidants. It is unclear whether raw burdock root is able to modulate alloxan-induced mouse hyperglycemia. We examined antioxidant activity of raw and the fermented burdock root powders and the effect of raw burdock root diet on alloxan-induced mouse hyperglycemia

Methods

Results

Conclusion