title: Differential anti-diabetic effects and mechanism of action of charantin-rich extract of Taiwanese Momordica charantia between type 1 and type 2 diabetic mice.
abstract: Momordica charantia Linn. (Cucurbitaceae), also called bitter melon, has traditionally been used as a natural anti-diabetic agent for anti-hyperglycemic activity in several animal models and clinical trials. We investigated the differences in the anti-diabetic properties and mechanism of action of Taiwanese M. charantia (MC) between type 1 diabetic (T1D) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) mice. To clarify the beneficial effects of MC, we measured non-fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance, and plasma insulin levels in KK/HIJ mice with high-fat diet-induced diabetes (200 mg/kg/day of charantin-rich extract of MC [CEMC]) and in ICR mice with STZ-induced diabetes. After 8 weeks, all the mice were exsanguinated, and the expression of the insulin-signaling-associated proteins in their tissue was evaluated, in coordination with the protective effects of CEMC against pancreatic β-cell toxicity (in vitro). Eight weeks of data indicated that CEMC caused a significant decline in non-fasting blood glucose, plasma glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance in the KK/HIJ mice, but not in the ICR mice. Furthermore, CEMC decreased plasma insulin and promoted the sensitivity of insulin by increasing the expression of GLUT4 in the skeletal muscle and of IRS-1 in the liver of KK/HIJ mice; however, CEMC extract had no effect on the insulin sensitivity of ICR mice. In vitro study showed that CEMC prevented pancreatic β cells from high-glucose-induced cytotoxicity after 24 h of incubation, but the protective effect was not detectable after 72 h. Collectively, the hypoglycemic effects of CEMC suggest that it has potential for increasing insulin sensitivity in patients with T2D rather than for protecting patients with T1D against β-cell dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District, Tainan City, Taiwan; Department of Sports Management, College of Leisure and Recreation Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Rende District, Tainan City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsien-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District, Tainan City, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Chung Hua University of Medical Technology, Rende District, Tainan City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Chih
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District, Tainan City, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District, Tainan City, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Safety, College of Environment, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Rende District, Tainan City, Taiwan; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, North District, Tainan City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tain-Junn
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Yong-Kang District, Tainan City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sung-Hsun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Yong-Kang District, Tainan City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Liang-Hao
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Yong-Kang District, Tainan City, Taiwan. Electronic address: jjchuu@mail.stust.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Jiunn-Jye
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chuu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D029777:Momordica charantia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; C526295:Irs1 protein, mouse; D010936:Plant Extracts; C495693:Slc2a4 protein, mouse
keywords: Charantin; Hypoglycemic; Insulin signaling; Momordica charantia; Pancreatic β cells; Type 2 diabetes