Nutr Res Pract.  2013 Apr;7(2):103-108.

The antidiabetic effects of an herbal formula composed of Alnus hirsuta, Rosa davurica, Acanthopanax senticosus and Panax schinseng in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

• Hu W
• Yeo JH
• Jiang Y
• Heo SI
• Wang MH

Abstract

A folk prescription consisting of Alnus hirsuta, Rosa davurica, Acanthopanax senticosus and Panax schinseng has been used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the antidiabetic effects of the herb formula extract (HFE) composed of Alnus hirsuta, Rosa davurica, Acanthopanax senticosus and Panax schinseng in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The HFE was mixed in the food supply of the healthy and STZ-induced diabetic male Sprague-Dawley rats, and its effects on the body weight, water and food intake, hyperglycemia, hypolipidemic and islet structure were studied. The treatment of the rats with STZ for 6 weeks resulted in marasmus, polydipsia, polyphagia, hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia. In addition, the diabetic rats showed an apparent decrease in the insulin immunoreactivity and the number of beta-cells in the pancreas. The addition of the HFE to the rats' food supply significantly lowered the serum glucose and the serum triglycerides level and preserved the normal histological appearance of the pancreatic islets. These results indicate that the HEF have a strong antidiabetic potential along with the significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, which may be applicable in the pharmaceutical industry.

Keyword

Antidiabetic; hyperglycemia; immunohistochemistry; multi-herbal formula; streptozotocin

MeSH Terms

Eleutherococcus
Alnus
Animals
Body Weight
Diabetes Mellitus
Drinking
Drug Industry
Eating
Food Supply
Glucose
Humans
Hyperglycemia
Immunohistochemistry
Insulin
Islets of Langerhans
Male
Panax
Pancreas
Polydipsia
Prescriptions
Protein-Energy Malnutrition
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Rosa
Streptozocin
Triglycerides
Glucose
Insulin
Streptozocin
Triglycerides

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Amount of food intake (A), water intake (B) and variation in average weight (C) of each group. ○: normal rats treated with basal feed diet; □: normal rats treated with feed diet containing 0.01% herb formula extract (HFE); ●: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with basal feed diet; ■: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with feed diet containing 0.01% HFE; ▲: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with feed diet containing 0.1% HFE. Values represent the mean ± SD (n = 6).

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  Fig. 2 Serum glucose levels in normal and diabetic rats treated with basal feed diet or diet containing herb formula extract (HFE). A: normal rats treated with basal feed diet (Init. GL. = 160.4 ± 9.57 mg/dL); B: normal rats treated with feed diet containing 0.01% HFE (Init. GL. = 156.6 ± 6.68 mg/dL); C: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with basal feed diet (Init. GL. = 360.6 ± 68.61 mg/dL); D: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with feed diet containing 0.01% HFE (Init. GL. = 368.3 ± 55.09 mg/dL); E: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with feed diet containing 0.1% HFE (Init. GL. = 372.9 ± 61.94 mg/dL). Values represent the mean ± SD (n = 6). Values with the same letter are not significantly different by Turkey one way test (P > 0.05). Init. GL, Means the initial serum glucose level of the group.

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  Fig. 3 Serum lipid content in normal and diabetic rats fed the herb formula extract (HFE) (mg/dL). (■: normal rats treated with basal feed diet; □: normal rats treated with feed diet containing 0.01% HFE; ▥: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with basal feed diet; ▨: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with feed diet containing 0.01% HFE; ▤: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with feed diet containing 0.1% HFE.) Values represent the mean ± SD (n = 6). Values with the same letter are not significantly different by Duncan's multiple range test (P > 0.05).

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  Fig. 4 H&E staining of rat pancreas (× 400). A: normal rats treated with basal feed diet. B: normal rats treated with feed diet containing 0.01% herb formula extract (HFE). C: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with basal feed diet. D: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with feed diet containing 0.01% HFE.E: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with feed diet containing 0.1% HFE.

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  Fig. 5 Insulin immunohistochemistry of rat pancreas (× 400). A: normal rats treated with basal feed diet. B: normal rats treated with feed diet containing 0.01% herb formula extract (HFE). C: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with basal feed diet. D: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with feed diet containing 0.01% HFE. E: STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with feed diet containing 0.1% HFE.

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