title: Protective effects of an herbal formulation of Radix Astragali, Radix Codonopsis and Cortex Lycii on streptozotocin-induced apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells: an implication for its treatment of diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Hyperglycemia is one of the main causes of oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus. During hyperglycemia, the increased level of various reducing sugars in the blood enhances the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggers tissue damage, especially in pancreatic beta-cells. Streptozotocin (STZ) is a diabetogen that causes diabetes mellitus via ROS-induced apoptosis in beta-cells. In this study, SR10, an herbal formulation consisting of the aqueous extracts of Radix Astragali, Radix Codonopsis and Cortex Lycii was examined for its antidiabetic effects in vitro. SR10 treatment resulted in significant enhancement of survival rate of rat pancreatic beta-cells which were treated by streptozotocin. SR10 apparently reduced apoptosis of streptozotocin-treated beta-cells by decreasing DNA fragmentation, sub-G(1) peak area and percentage of apoptotic cells. Nitric oxide (NO) production in streptozotocin-treated cells was inhibited by SR10 via the suppression of the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The implication of SR10 in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus was discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Judy Yuet-Wa
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Ping-Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Chun-Tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Che
authors.forename: Kwok-Pui
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D029422:Campanulaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D032305:Lycium / Q000737:chemistry; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013311:Streptozocin