title: A preadipocyte differentiation assay as a method for screening potential anti-type II diabetes drugs from herbal extracts.
abstract: A cell-based method for screening drug candidates from herbal extracts that have possible anti-type II diabetic effects was established. The differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes was used as a sensitive primary indicator of a drug's potential effect on type II diabetes. We established a quantitative method by using a computer image analysis system for assessing the morphological alterations. The assay was validated by screening compounds extracted from Chinese herbs and the known drug rosiglitazone for their capability of modulating PPARgamma gene expression and glucose uptake by adipocytes. Two drug candidates having possible anti-type II diabetic effects were identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University (Yuquan Campus), Hangzhou, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ming-en
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shang-zhi
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Yong-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ou-yang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Xiao-xiang
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077154:Rosiglitazone