title: The plasma glucose lowering action of tetrandrine in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: The effect of tetrandrine, an active principle of Stephaniae tetrandrae, on the plasma glucose level in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ-diabetic rats) was investigated. A single intravenous injection of tetrandrine decreased the plasma glucose in a dose-dependent manner in STZ-diabetic rats. Moreover, tetrandrine (1.0 mg x kg(-1)) significantly attenuated the rise in plasma glucose induced by the intravenous glucose challenge test in normal rats. A stimulatory effect of tetrandrine on glucose uptake was obtained in soleus muscles isolated from STZ-diabetic rats with a concentration-dependent manner from 0.01 to 10.0 micromol L(-1). The increase in glucose utilization by tetrandrine was further characterized using the enhancement of glycogen synthesis in the hepatocytes of STZ-diabetic rats. These results suggest that tetrandrine has the ability to enhance glucose utilization in peripheral tissue, resulting in the lowering of plasma glucose in diabetic rats lacking insulin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Tokyo City, Japan.
authors.forename: Wang-Chuan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Lee-Wen
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: I-Min
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Juei-Tang
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C009438:tetrandrine; D006003:Glycogen; D005947:Glucose