Nutr Res Pract.  2016 Oct;10(5):507-515. 10.4162/nrp.2016.10.5.507.

Gynura procumbens extract improves insulin sensitivity and suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice

• Choi SI
• Lee HA
• Han JS

• KMID: 2434085
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2016.10.5.507

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
This study was designed to investigate whether Gynura procumbens extract (GPE) can improve insulin sensitivity and suppress hepatic glucose production in an animal model of type 2 diabetes.
MATERIALS/METHODS
C57BL/Ksj-db/db mice were divided into 3 groups, a regular diet (control), GPE, and rosiglitazone groups (0.005 g/100 g diet) and fed for 6 weeks.
RESULTS
Mice supplemented with GPE showed significantly lower blood levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin than diabetic control mice. Glucose and insulin tolerance test also showed the positive effect of GPE on increasing insulin sensitivity. The homeostatic index of insulin resistance was significantly lower in mice supplemented with GPE than in the diabetic control mice. In the skeletal muscle, the expression of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase, pAkt substrate of 160 kDa, and PM-glucose transporter type 4 increased in mice supplemented with GPE when compared to that of the diabetic control mice. GPE also decreased the expression of glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in the liver.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate that GPE might improve insulin sensitivity and inhibit gluconeogenesis in the liver.

Keyword

Gluconeogenesis; db/db mice; Gynura procumbens; hyperglycemia; insulin resistance

MeSH Terms

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
Animals
Diet
Gluconeogenesis*
Glucose
Glucose-6-Phosphatase
Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated
Hyperglycemia
Insulin Resistance*
Insulin*
Liver
Mice*
Models, Animal
Muscle, Skeletal
Phosphoenolpyruvate
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
Glucose
Glucose-6-Phosphatase
Insulin
Phosphoenolpyruvate