title: Protective effects of total extracts of Averrhoa carambola L. (Oxalidaceae) roots on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Chinese culture, the roots of Averrhoa carambola L. have long been used for medical purposes due to their potent pharmaceutical activities, such as improving digestive function and treating diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recently, we prepared extracts of Averrhoa carambola L. root (EACR), which were isolated from Averrhoa carambola L. roots using ethanol or water. This study was designed to investigate the potential effects of EACR on streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic mice and to explore the underlying mechanism of these effects. Male mice were injected with STZ through the tail vein (120 mg/kg body weight) and were identified as a diabetic mouse model when the level of blood glucose was ≥11.1 mmol/L. Subsequently, the mice were administered EACR (150, 300, 600, 1200 mg/kg body weight/d) and metformin (320 mg/kg body weight/d) via intragastric gavage for three weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that EACR significantly decreased the serum levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs) and free fatty acids (FFAs), whereas the content of serum insulin was elevated. In addition, the expressions of apoptosis-related regulators (including caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9) and the apoptosis-induced protein Bax were markedly down-regulated by EACR, whereas the expression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein was notably increased. Furthermore, EACR could protect the diabetic mice against the STZ-induced apoptosis of pancreatic β cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these findings indicate that EACR plays an effective hyperglycemic role that is associated with ameliorating metabolic functions and with inhibiting apoptosis in pancreas tissue.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Qingwei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jingzhi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Qiaoyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Liqun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Feifei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Renbin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D065825:Oxalidaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D013311:Streptozocin; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D013311:Streptozocin