title: The effect of fenugreek 4-hydroxyisoleucine on liver function biomarkers and glucose in diabetic and fructose-fed rats.
abstract: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L) is a plant traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes. It contains an unusual amino acid, 4-hydroxyisoleucine, demonstrated to have insulinotropic and antidiabetic properties in animal models. Here we examine the effect of 4-hydroxyisoleucine on liver function and blood glucose in two rat models of insulin resistance, fructose-fed rats and streptozotocin-induced diabetes type 2. In fructose-fed rats, levels of glucose and liver damage marker aspartate transaminase were markedly (84% and 93%, respectively) and significantly elevated compared with controls (p < 0.001 for both). Alanine transaminase was elevated slightly (18%), and all markers were restored to near control values after treatment with 4-hydroxyisoleucine at 50 mg/kg per day for 8 weeks, the effect being significant (p < 0.01) for all markers. This prolonged exposure to 4-hydroxyisoleucine was well tolerated in control animals and did not alter levels of glucose or liver damage markers significantly. In diabetic rats, treatment with 4-hydroxyisoleucine did not affect glucose or liver damage markers, but did improve HDL-cholesterol levels (31% increase, p < 0.05). These findings indicate 4-hydroxyisoleucine as a useful and well-tolerated treatment for insulin resistance, both directly as a hypoglycaemic and also as a protective agent for the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Haeri
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izaddoost
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza Shams
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ardekani
authors.forename: Mohammad Rahbani
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nobar
authors.forename: Kenneth N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005632:Fructose / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007532:Isoleucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D029910:Trigonella / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C104672:4-hydroxyisoleucine; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007532:Isoleucine; D005632:Fructose; D000410:Alanine Transaminase