title: Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) Exhibits Antidiabetic Activities in a Mouse Model of Diet-Induced Obesity.
abstract: Vaccinium vitis-idaea, commonly known as lingonberry, has been identified among species used by the Cree of Eeyou Istchee of northern Quebec to treat symptoms of diabetes. In a previous study, the ethanol extract of berries of V. vitis-idaea enhanced glucose uptake in C2C12 muscle cells via stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of plant extract in a dietary mouse model of mild type 2 diabetes. C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD, ∼35% lipids) for 8 weeks that become obese and insulin-resistant (diet-induced obesity, DIO) were used. Treatment began by adding V. vitis-idaea extract to HFD at 3 different concentrations (125, 250, and 500 mg/Kg) for a subsequent period of 8 weeks (total HFD, 16 weeks). The plant extract significantly decreased glycemia and strongly tended to decrease insulin levels in this model. This was correlated with a significant increase in GLUT4 content and activation of the AMPK and Akt pathways in skeletal muscle. V. vitis-idaea treatment also improved hepatic steatosis by decreasing hepatic triglyceride levels and significantly activated liver AMPK and Akt pathways. The results of the present study confirm that V. vitis-idaea represents a culturally relevant treatment option for Cree diabetics and pave the way to clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Natural Health Products and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, University of Montreal, Station Centre-Ville, P.O. Box 6128, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7 ; Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plant and Ethnopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5 ; Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicines and Montreal Diabetes Research Center, Canada ; Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Beni Suef, Beni Suef 62511, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hoda M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.affiliation: Natural Health Products and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, University of Montreal, Station Centre-Ville, P.O. Box 6128, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7 ; Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plant and Ethnopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5 ; Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicines and Montreal Diabetes Research Center, Canada.
authors.forename: Meriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouchfoun
authors.affiliation: Natural Health Products and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, University of Montreal, Station Centre-Ville, P.O. Box 6128, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7 ; Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plant and Ethnopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5 ; Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicines and Montreal Diabetes Research Center, Canada.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brault
authors.affiliation: Natural Health Products and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, University of Montreal, Station Centre-Ville, P.O. Box 6128, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7 ; Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plant and Ethnopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5 ; Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicines and Montreal Diabetes Research Center, Canada.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8991-3011
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallerand
authors.affiliation: Natural Health Products and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, University of Montreal, Station Centre-Ville, P.O. Box 6128, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7 ; Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plant and Ethnopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5 ; Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicines and Montreal Diabetes Research Center, Canada.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Musallam
authors.affiliation: Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plant and Ethnopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5 ; Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicines and Montreal Diabetes Research Center, Canada.
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Arnason
authors.affiliation: Natural Health Products and Metabolic Diseases Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, University of Montreal, Station Centre-Ville, P.O. Box 6128, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7 ; Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plant and Ethnopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5 ; Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicines and Montreal Diabetes Research Center, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Haddad