Abstract

Cytokines produced by immune cells infiltrating pancreatic islets are important mediators of β‐cell destruction in insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus. In this study, the effects of Fructus Benincasae Recens (FBR) extract on cytokine‐induced β‐cell dysfunction were examined. Fructus Benincasae Recens extract completely protected interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ)‐mediated cytotoxicity in rat insulinoma cell line (RINm5F). Incubation with FBR extract resulted in a significant reduction of IL‐1β and IFN‐γ‐induced nitric oxide (NO) production, a finding that correlated well with reduced levels of the inducible form of NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein. The molecular mechanism by which FBR extract inhibited iNOS gene expression appeared to involve the inhibition of NF‐κB activation. Our results revealed the possible therapeutic value of FBR extract for the prevention of diabetes mellitus progression.

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