Effect of lupeol on insulin resistance in adipose tissue by modulating the expression of insulin and inflammatory signaling molecules in high-fat diet and sucrose-fed diabetic rats

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity and diabetes has increased globally as a result of lifestyle modifications including eating a high-fat diet and not exercising. The target tissues to insulin action are the key pathophysiological event contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The treatments for type 2 diabetes that are now accessible are ineffectual due to their unfavourable side effects. Hence, search drugs, from plant sources. Lupeol is widely present in various medicinal plants. It has been reported to elicit multitude of bioactivities including antilipidemic and antihyperglycemic activity. However, specific effect of Lupeol on insulin signaling molecules of adipose tissue remains unclear. Hence, the study aimed to assess the beneficial role of Lupeol on the expression of insulin‑signaling molecules in adipose tissue of high fat diet and sucrose-induced type‑2 diabetic rats. The oral effective dose of lupeol at a dose of 25 mg per kg body weight per day orally for 30 days is observed. Lupeol, being a powerful antioxidant agent, normalises hyperglycemia, dyslipidaemia, and hyperinsulinemia while also suppressing oxidative stress by scavenging high levels of ROS. It also enhances insulin signalling in type 2 diabetic rats in adipose tissues. Lupeol administration decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may be due to lupeol's possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and thus it promotes insulin sensitivity via altering pro-inflammatory signalling molecules in adipose tissue such as IL-6, TNF alpha, and NFkB. As a result of the current findings, it is concluded that lupoel possesses potent anti-diabetic characteristics and could be used as a phytomedicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.