title: Beneficial effects of Chinese prescription Kangen-karyu on diabetes associated with hyperlipidemia, advanced glycation endproducts, and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we investigated the effects of Kangen-karyu, a traditional Chinese prescription comprising six herbs, on diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kangen-karyu extract (50, 100, or 200mg/kg body weight) was administered to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and serum and hepatic biochemical factors, and protein expressions associated with oxidative stress and advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) formation were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The oral administration of Kangen-karyu significantly ameliorated hypertriglyceridemia induced by STZ injection, while serum levels of glucose and total cholesterol were mildly affected. Kangen-karyu also markedly reduced the levels of AGEs and malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxide product used as an indicator of oxidative stress in both serum and hepatic tissue. In addition, Kangen-karyu dose-dependently lowered the expression levels of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl) lysine, one of the major component of AGEs closely associated with the pathogenesis of diabetes and liver cirrhosis, and receptor for AGEs, as well as the expression levels of nuclear factor-kappaB, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) associated with oxidative stress. Especially, MDA levels in both serum and hepatic tissue and COX-2 expression increased by STZ were recovered by Kangen-karyu (200mg/kg body weight) to normal levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kangen-karyu showed favorable effects on hypertriglycemia, AGE formation, and oxidative stress in STZ-treated rats, suggesting beneficial effects on diabetes, diabetic hepatopathy, and liver diseases such as cirrhosis, as well as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Jinju National University, Jinju 660-758, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokozawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000378:metabolism*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; C468270:Kangen-karyu; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014280:Triglycerides; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002784:Cholesterol; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D008239:Lysine