Effects of Bofutsushosan and Gardeniae Fructus on Diabetic Serum Parameters in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

Qing Yu,Shinjiro Kobayashi,Mai Yasuda,Nobuyoshi Hagino,Tatsuo Takahashi,Masaaki Nomura

doi:10.4236/cm.2011.24022

Abstract

Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice increased levels of serum glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol, and decreased level of serum insulin. Effects of Bofutsushosan (BOF: Pulvis ledebouriellae compositae: 防風通聖散) and its composed crude drug, gardeniae fructus (GF: 山梔子) were investigated on levels of these diabetic parameters (serum glucose, insulin, triglyceride and cholesterol) in STZ-diabetic mice. BOF and GF were extracted in 10 volumes of distilled water with an automatic extractor “Torobi”. STZ-induced diabetic mice with serum glucose level of over 600 mg/dl at 3 - 4 weeks after intravenous injection of 150 mg/kg STZ were used for experiments. BOF extract, GF extract, geniposide (a main constituent of GF), and glibenclamide were administered intraperitoneally into 3-hour-fasted STZ-diabetic mice. At 6 hours after administration, BOF extract (100 - 300 mg/kg) decreased high levels of serum glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol, and also increased low level of serum insulin in STZ-diabetic mice in a dose-dependent manner, respectively. Anti-diabetic drug glibenclamide (0.3 - 1 mg/kg) as positive control significantly decreased serum glucose and cholesterol levels, and increased serum insulin level in the diabetic mice. GF extract (30 - 300 mg/kg) decreased serum glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol levels but did not affect serum insulin level in the diabetic mice. Geniposide (10 - 100 mg/kg), decreased serum glucose level but did not affect serum insulin and triglyceride levels in the diabetic mice. These results demonstrated that intraperitoneally administrated BOF extract improved abnormal levels of serum glucose, insulin, triglyceride and cholesterol in the STZ-diabetic mice as being similar to glibenclamide. GF extract has an important role in a part of improving actions of BOF in the diabetic mice. The action of GF extract on serum glucose was parallel with the action of geniposide in the diabetic mice, supporting roles of geniposide in anti-hyperglycemic action of GF.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic heterogeneous disease characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from both insulin resistance and insulin deficiency secondary to pancreatic cell failure
Geniposide (10 100 mg/kg), decreased serum glucose level but did not affect serum insulin and triglyceride levels in the diabetic mice. These results demonstrated that intraperitoneally administrated BOF extract improved abnormal levels of serum glucose, insulin, triglyceride and cholesterol in the STZ-diabetic mice as being similar to glibenclamide
gardeniae fructus (GF) extract has an important role in a part of improving actions of BOF in the diabetic mice

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic heterogeneous disease characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from both insulin resistance and insulin deficiency secondary to pancreatic cell failure. Diabetes mellitus through hyperglycemia is widely known to be a major factor that leads to microvascular and neural complication [1]. Diabetes mellitus is characterized as a disease of carbohydrate metabolism, abnormalities of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism are commonly observed. The lipid profile in type 2 diabetic subjects generally consists of elevated triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, and reduced HDL cholesterol [14,15]. Atherosclerosis is, associated with macrovascular disease and the role of dyslipidaemia versus hyperglycemia in the pathogenesis of microvascular disease remains unclear and continues to be debated [16]

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