title: The effects and mechanism of saponins of Panax notoginseng on glucose metabolism in 3T3-L1 cells.
abstract: This study was carried out to determine the effect of saponins of Panax notoginseng (SPN), a naturally occurring cardiovascular agent, on: (1) glucose uptake, (2) GLUT4 translocation and (3) glycogen synthesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Electrospray ionization-Mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to determine the structural characterization of the major active components of SPN. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were cultured and treated with 100 nM insulin alone or with 10, 50 and 100 microg/ml of SPN. [(3)H]2-deoxyglucose glucose uptake, GLUT4 immunofluorescence imaging and glycogen synthesis assay were carried out to determine the effects of SPN on glucose metabolism. Under insulin stimulation, SPN significantly increased glucose uptake in a dose-dependent manner; 50 microg/ml of SPN increased glucose uptake by 64% (p < 0.001). Immunofluorescence imaging and analysis have revealed that 50 and 100 microg/ml of SPN increased GLUT4 in the plasma membrane by 3-fold and 6-fold respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the incorporation of D-[U-(14)C] glucose into glycogen was enhanced by 53% in 3T3-L1 cells treated with 100 microg/ml of SPN (p < 0.01 vs. insulin stimulation alone). SPN, a naturally occurring agent used to treat ischemic cardio-cerebral vascular disease in China, enhanced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in adipocytes. The results of this study indicate that SPN may have a therapeutic potential for hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes.
authors: Department of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors: Jane J Y
authors: JJ
authors: Kim
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Xiao
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Tan
authors: Zheng-Zhong
authors: ZZ
authors: Wang
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Paul Seale
authors: Xianqin
authors: X
authors: Qu
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006003:Glycogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D053723:Panax notoginseng / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012503:Saponins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; D006003:Glycogen; D005947:Glucose