Beneficial effects of Chinese prescription Kangen-karyu on diabetes associated with hyperlipidemia, advanced glycation endproducts, and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
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.
Kim
Hyun Young
HY
Department of Food Science, Jinju National University, Jinju 660-758, Republic of Korea.
Okamoto
Takuya
T
Yokozawa
Takako
T
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
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