title: Steviol glycosides modulate glucose transport in different cell types.
abstract: Extracts from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, a plant native to Central and South America, have been used as a sweetener since ancient times. Currently, Stevia extracts are largely used as a noncaloric high-potency biosweetener alternative to sugar, due to the growing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic disorders worldwide. Despite the large number of studies on Stevia and steviol glycosides in vivo, little is reported concerning the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning the beneficial effects on human health. The effect of four commercial Stevia extracts on glucose transport activity was evaluated in HL-60 human leukaemia and in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. The extracts were able to enhance glucose uptake in both cellular lines, as efficiently as insulin. Our data suggest that steviol glycosides could act by modulating GLUT translocation through the PI3K/Akt pathway since treatments with both insulin and Stevia extracts increased the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt. Furthermore, Stevia extracts were able to revert the effect of the reduction of glucose uptake caused by methylglyoxal, an inhibitor of the insulin receptor/PI3K/Akt pathway. These results corroborate the hypothesis that Stevia extracts could mimic insulin effects modulating PI3K/Akt pathway.
authors: Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Corso Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, Italy.
authors: Benedetta
authors: B
authors: Rizzo
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Zambonin
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Angeloni
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Leoncini
authors: Francesco Vieceli
authors: FV
authors: Dalla Sega
authors: Cecilia
authors: C
authors: Prata
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Fiorentini
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Hrelia
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D045786:Diterpenes, Kaurane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative / Q000378:metabolism; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D045786:Diterpenes, Kaurane; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative; D006027:Glycosides; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C012042:steviol; D011765:Pyruvaldehyde; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D053148:Caspase 3; D005947:Glucose