title: Anti-diabetic activity of Chiliadenus iphionoides.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chiliadenus iphionoides (Boiss. & Blanche) Brullo (Asteraceae), a small aromatic shrub found throughout Israel, is used traditionally in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In this study, Chiliadenus iphionoides anti-diabetic activity was characterized using cellular and animal models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pancreatic β cells, adipocytes, and skeletal myotubes were treated with an ethanolic extract of Chiliadenus iphionoides to study the extract's effects on insulin secretion and glucose uptake. The sand rat (Psammomys obesus) was used to study Chiliadenus iphionoides acute and long term effects in vivo. An oral starch tolerance test was performed as well as a 30 day feeding study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chiliadenus iphionoides extract increased insulin secretion in β cells as well as glucose uptake in adipocytes and skeletal myotubes. The extract also displayed hypoglycemic activity in the diabetic sand rat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chiliadenus iphionoides exhibits considerable anti-diabetic activity, although the mechanism of action remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Judea Regional Research & Development Center, Carmel 90404, Israel. jorleygf@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gorelick
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitron
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pen
authors.forename: Tovit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
authors.forename: Zecharia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Madar
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts