In vivo and in vitro evaluation of the effects of Urtica dioica and swimming activity on diabetic factors and pancreatic beta cells.

Abbas Ranjbari,Abdul Halim Mokhtar,Ashril Yusof,Bahman Tarverdizadeh,Samad Akbarzadeh,Mohammad Ali Azarbayjani,Mohamed Yousif Ibrahim,Firouzeh Dehghan,Reza Hajiaghaee,Parviz Farzadinia

doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1064-6

Abbas Ranjbari, Abdul Halim Mokhtar + Show 8 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1064-6

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Abstract

BackgroundUrtica dioica (UD) has been identified as a traditional herbal medicine. This study aimed to investigate the effect of UD extract and swimming activity on diabetic parameters through in vivo and in vitro experiments.MethodsAdult WKY male rats were randomly distributed in nine groups: intact control, diabetic control, diabetic + 625 mg/kg, 1.25 g/kg UD, diabetic + 100 mg/kg Metformin, diabetic + swimming, diabetic + swimming 625 mg/kg, 1.25 g/kg UD, and diabetic +100 mg/kg Metformin + swimming. The hearts of the animals were punctured, and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. The entire pancreas was exposed for histologic examination. The effect of UD on insulin secretion by RIN-5F cells in 6.25 or 12.5 mM glucose dose was examined. Glucose uptake by cultured L6 myotubes was determined.ResultsThe serum glucose concentration decreased, the insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity significantly increased in treated groups. These changes were more pronounced in the group that received UD extract and swimming training. Regeneration and less beta cell damage of Langerhans islets were observed in the treated groups. UD treatment increased insulin secretion in the RIN-5F cells and glucose uptake in the L6 myotubes cells.ConclusionsSwimming exercises accompanied by consuming UD aqueous extracts effectively improved diabetic parameters, repaired pancreatic tissues in streptozotocin-induced diabetics in vivo, and increased glucose uptake or insulin in UD-treated cells in vitro.

Highlights

Urtica dioica (UD) has been identified as a traditional herbal medicine
To fill this research gap, the present study aims to investigate in vivo and in vitro evaluation of Urtica dioica effects and swimming activity on diabetic factors and pancreatic beta cells on streptozotocin diabetic with the use of synthetic metformin medicine and normal rats
Cell proliferation assay To assess the non-cytotoxic concentration of UD, the viability of RIN-5F and L6 cells were evaluated at doses ranging between 0 and 5 mg/mL using MTT assay

Summary

Introduction

Urtica dioica (UD) has been identified as a traditional herbal medicine. This study aimed to investigate the effect of UD extract and swimming activity on diabetic parameters through in vivo and in vitro experiments. More than 30 % of medicines derived from natural sources are used in hospitals and clinics [13,14,15] Despite their useful roles, most of the chemical medicines used in diabetes have damaging side effects [14, 16]; practitioners have considered changing to alternative natural plant therapy [17, 18]. Urtica dioica (UD) is one of natural plants used in traditional medicine [19, 20]. It has been used for homeopathy allergies, anemia, internal bleeding, kidney stones, burns, and diabetes [21]. The effects of UD on glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) translocation on L6 muscle cells show that this plant stimulates GLUT4 transport to plasma membrane and glucose uptake into skeletal muscle [26]

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