title: Antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of α, β-amyrin, a triterpenoid mixture from Protium heptaphyllum in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pentacyclic triterpenes in general exert beneficial effects in metabolic disorders. This study investigated the effects of α, β-amyrin, a pentacyclic triterpene mixture from the resin of Protium heptaphyllum on blood sugar level and lipid profile in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, and in mice fed on a high-fat diet (HFD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mice treated with α, β-amyrin (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) or glibenclamide (10 mg/kg, p.o.) had significantly reduced STZ-induced increases in blood glucose (BG), total cholesterol (TC) and serum triglycerides (TGs). Unlike glibenclamide that showed significant reductions in BG, TC and TGs in normoglycemic mice, α, β-amyrin did not lower normal blood sugar levels but at 100 mg/kg, manifested a hypolipidemic effect. Also, α, β-amyrin effectively reduced the elevated plasma glucose levels during the oral glucose tolerance test. Moreover, the plasma insulin level and histopathological analysis of pancreas revealed the beneficial effect of α, β-amyrin in the preservation of beta cell integrity. In mice treated orally with α, β-amyrin (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) or fenofibrate (200 mg/kg), the HFD-associated rise in serum TC and TGs were significantly less. The hypocholesterolemic effect of α, β-amyrin appeared more prominent at 100 mg/kg with significant decreases in VLDL and LDL cholesterol and an elevation of HDL cholesterol. Besides, the atherogenic index was significantly reduced by α, β-amyrin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings reflect the potential antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of α, β-amyrin mixture and suggest that it could be a lead compound for drug development effective in diabetes and atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. flavia@ufc.br
authors.forename: Flávia Almeida
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Julyanne Torres
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Frota
authors.forename: Bruno Rodrigues
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.forename: Tiago Sousa
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.forename: Armenio André de Carvalho Almeida
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Gerly Anne de Castro
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Mariana Helena
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Vietla Satyanarayana
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D055808:Drug Discovery; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; C036380:beta-amyrin; D005905:Glyburide; D011345:Fenofibrate