Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) improves insulin sensitivity in high fat fed Sprague-Dawley rats.
Many studies have documented that ginseng has antidiabetic and antiobesity effects, but the mechanism of the effects has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG, Panax ginseng) and investigate the mechanism of antidiabetic and antiobesity effects in obese insulin resistant animal models. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups: a control group (group I) fed a normal diet, another group (group II) fed only high fat diet (HFD) and a third group (group III) fed HFD with KRG (200 mg/kg, oral) for 18 weeks. The body weight, food intake, adipose tissues, liver, kidney, pancreas, adiponectin, and leptin were measured. Blood glucose, insulin tolerance test, and hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp test were investigated. A significant weight reduction, especially fat mass reduction, was observed in the KRG treated group. Increased insulin sensitivity was found in the KRG treated group. We observed increased insulin signalling, increased phosphorylation of IR, IRS-1, Akt, and membranous GLUT4 in muscle by Western blotting assay. In conclusion, KRG may have antidiabetic and antiobesity effects due to partly increased insulin sensitivity by increased adipokine and partly enhanced insulin signalling.
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Seo Hee
SH
Lee
Hyun Joo
HJ
Lee
Yong-ho
YH
Lee
Byung-Wan
BW
Lee
Bong Soo
BS
Cha
Eun Seok
ES
Kang
Chul Woo
CW
Ahn
Jong Sook
JS
Park
Hyo Jeong
HJ
Kim
Eun Young
EY
Lee
Hyun Chul
HC
Lee
D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D005894:Panax; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D054392:Adipokines; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D004041:Dietary Fats; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; C526296:Irs1 protein, rat; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011972:Receptor, Insulin