Korean red ginseng stimulates insulin release from isolated rat pancreatic islets.
BACKGROUND
Korean red ginseng (KRG), one of heat-processed Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), has a long history as herbal remedy for antidiabetic effect.


OBJECTIVE
The effect and mechanism of KRG on stimulation of insulin release were investigated in isolated rat pancreatic islets.


METHODS
Pancreatic islets isolated from rats were used to evaluate the insulinotropic action of KRG. The effect of Ca on the insulinotropic action of KRG was investigated.


RESULTS
The aqueous ethanolic extract of KRG (AEE-KRG) (0.1-1.0mg/ml) significantly evoked a stimulation of insulin release at 3.3mM glucose compared to the control. Experiments at different glucose concentrations (8.4 and 16.7mM) showed that AEE-KRG significantly stimulated on its own whereas it did not potentiate insulin secretion induced by glucose. The extracellular Ca(2+)-free condition, a L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker and an ATP-sensitive K(+) channel opener significantly inhibited insulin secretion evoked by AEE-KRG.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that KRG displays beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes at least in part via the stimulation of insulin release in a glucose-independent manner.
Kim
Kyong
K
Food Convergence Technology Division, Korea Food Research Institute, Kyonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Hye Young
HY
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005947:Glucose; D002118:Calcium