title: In vitro and in vivo anti-diabetic activity of Swertia kouitchensis extract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Swertia kouitchensis has long been used as a folk medicine to treat hepatitis and diabetes in central-western China. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity of the plant ethanol extract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Firstly, the extract was tested for its inhibitory activity on α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro. Following that, insulin secretion test in NIT-1 cell was performed. Then, oral sucrose or starch tolerance test of the extract were carried out in normal mice. After that, acute effect of the extract was executed in normal and streptozotocin-induced (60 mg/kg) diabetic mice. Eventually, long term effect of the extract was performed in diabetic mice for 4 weeks. Oral glucose tolerance test and biochemical parameters were estimated at the end of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Swertia kouitchensis extract could remarkably inhibit the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase and stimulate insulin secretion in vitro. And also the extract displayed anti-hyperglycemic activity, improved antioxidant capacity, ameliorated the hyperlipidemia and carbohydrate metabolism in diabetic mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Swertia kouitchensis exhibits considerable anti-diabetic activity and metabolic alterations in diabetic mice. These results provide a rationale for the use of Swertia kouitchensis to treat diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Luo-sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Cui-ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zuo-qi
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Yong-long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiu-xia
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Yuedong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Jiachun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005941:Glucokinase / Q000378:metabolism; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D029967:Swertia; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006003:Glycogen; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005941:Glucokinase; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases