title: Evaluation of Chios mastic gum on lipid and glucose metabolism in diabetic mice.
abstract: Chios mastic gum (MG), a resin produced from Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia, is reported to possess beneficial cardiovascular and hepatoprotective properties. This study investigated the effect of crude Chios MG on metabolic parameters in diabetic mice. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic 12-week-old male C57bl/6 mice were assigned to three groups: NC (n=9) control; LdM (n=9) animals receiving low dose mastic for 8 weeks (20 mg/kg body weight [BW]); and HdM (n=9) animals receiving high dose mastic (500 mg/kg BW) for the same period. Serum lipid and glucose levels were determined at baseline, at 4 and 8 weeks. Serum total protein, adiponectin, and resistin levels were also measured at the end of the experiment. Histopathological examination for liver, kidney, aorta, and heart lesions was performed. After 4 weeks, MG administration resulted in decreased serum glucose and triglyceride levels in both LdM and HdM, whereas BW levels were reduced in LdM group compared with controls. At the end of the experiment, LdM presented significantly lower serum glucose, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and improved high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with control group. HdM group had ameliorated serum triglyceride levels. Hepatic steatosis observed in control group was partially reversed in LdM and HdM groups. MG administered in low dosages improves glucose and lipid disturbances in diabetic mice while alleviating hepatic damage.
authors.affiliation: 1 N.S. Christeas Department for Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Athens School of Medicine , Athens, Greece .
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Georgiadis
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karatzas
authors.forename: Laskarina-Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Korou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agrogiannis
authors.forename: Ioannis S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Vlachos
authors.forename: Alkisti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pantopoulou
authors.forename: Irene P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Tzanetakou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsilambros
authors.forename: Despina N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Perrea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D000069997:Mastic Resin; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D027927:Pistacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000069997:Mastic Resin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012116:Resins, Plant; D005947:Glucose