Nutr Res Pract.  2010 Oct;4(5):438-442.

Hypoglycemic effect of Rehmannie Radix Preparata (Sookjihwang) extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

• Kang SJ
• Bao CL
• Park S
• Kim AJ

Abstract

Rhemannie Radix Preparata (RRP) has been previously employed in traditional oriental medicine as a treatment for diabetic thirst and improving blood flow. The aim of this study was to evaluate its hypoglycemic control by assaying the activities of key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in streptozotocin-(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Further, RRP extracts were prepared in water (RRPW), in 50% ethanol (RRP50), and in 100% ethanol (RRP100), respectively, and compared for their actions in diabetic rats. The oral treatment of RRP (5 mg/kg b.w./d) to diabetic rats for 21 days resulted in a significant decline in blood glucose by 67% compared to diabetic control rats (P < 0.05). The altered activities of glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD), and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) in the livers of diabetic rats were reversed significantly to near-normal levels by the administration of RRP (P < 0.05). Among the three RRP extracts, RRP100 was the most effective in terms of hypoglycemic action. However, the administration of RRP to diabetic rats did not improve insulin production. The modulatory effects of RRP100 on the attenuation of carbohydrate enzyme activities appear to hold promise for widespread use for the treatment of diabetes in the future.

Keyword

Sookjihwang; Rhemannia Radix Preparata; streptozotocin-induced diabetes; hypoglycemic action; carbohydrate enzyme activity

MeSH Terms

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase
Animals
Blood Glucose
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Ethanol
Glucokinase
Gluconates
Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase
Hypoglycemic Agents
Insulin
Liver
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase
Rats
Thirst
Water
Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase
Blood Glucose
Ethanol
Glucokinase
Gluconates
Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase
Hypoglycemic Agents
Insulin
Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase
Water

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Rehmannie Radix Preparata (Sookjihwang)

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