A preadipocyte differentiation assay as a method for screening potential anti-type II diabetes drugs from herbal extracts.
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.
Xu
Ming-en
ME
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University (Yuquan Campus), Hangzhou, P. R. China.
Xiao
Shang-zhi
SZ
Sun
Yong-hong
YH
Ou-yang
Yang
Y
Guan
Chen
C
Zheng
Xiao-xiang
XX
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
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010936:Plant Extracts; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077154:Rosiglitazone