title: Antihyperglycemic and antioxidative effects of a herbal formulation of Radix Astragali, Radix Codonopsis and Cortex Lycii in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: There is emerging evidence that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to dysfunction of pancreatic beta-cells, is a major factor in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Antioxidation is one of the therapeutic strategies to overwhelm the imbalance in ROS production. In this study, a herbal formulation SR10, comprising Radix Astragali, Radix Codonopsis and Cortex Lycii, was examined for its antidiabetic and antioxidative effects using the diabetic +db/+db mouse model. The results showed that SR10 was effective in decreasing the blood glucose level in chronic treatment by improving beta-cell function. The activities and expression of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase, were up-regulated when treated with SR10. Moreover, SR10 treatment did not exhibit any toxic effect to the host.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Judy Yuet-Wa
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Fung-Chun
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lam
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; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D029745:Codonopsis / Q000737:chemistry; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D032305:Lycium / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase