title: Anti-diabetic effects of the ethanol extract of a functional formula diet in mice fed with a fructose/fat-rich combination diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhizoma dioscorea, Lycium barbarum, Prunella vulgaris and hawthorn are well known in both traditional food and folk medicine. Each of these plants reportedly possesses beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes. In this study an anti-diabetic health-promoting diet was formulated by mixing the herbs in a ratio of 6:4:2:3, and the anti-diabetic effect and underlying mechanism were elucidated in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the model control group, the formula, especially its ethanol extract (EF), could improve glucose intolerance and normalize the lipid profile. The mechanisms responsible for the amelioration of glucose and lipid metabolism in mice were an increase in peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity, a decrease in serum free fatty acid level, enhanced hepatic glucokinase activity and glycogen content and improved serum antioxidant activity. Hepatic histopathological examination also showed that EF administration markedly decreased fatty deposits in the liver of mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study demonstrated that the prepared functional formula diet is a potent alternative as an anti-diabetic health-promoting diet.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, No. 17 Tsinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ou
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shengbao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Ruojun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Baoping
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D027825:Crataegus; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D027742:Dioscorea; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D005632:Fructose / Q000009:adverse effects; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032305:Lycium; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031347:Prunella
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005632:Fructose
keywords: Lycium barbarum; Prunella vulgaris; Rhizoma dioscorea; anti-diabetes; formula; hawthorn