title: Molecular mechanisms of anti-hyperglycemic effects of Costus speciosus extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanisms of the anti-hyperglycemic effect of Costus speciosus (C. speciosus) root ethanolic extracts (CSREt) by assessing its action on insulin synthesis and glucose catabolic enzyme gene expression and activities in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out at the Biochemical Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt between July and August 2013. Sixty male albino rats (120 +/- 20 g weight, and 6 months old) were used and divided into 6 groups (n=10). Two groups served as diabetic and nondiabetic controls. Four groups of STZ diabetic animals were given oral C. speciosus (CSREt) in doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight, and 600 µg/kg body weight of the standard drug glibenclamide for 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CSREt 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight induced a decrease in blood glucose and an increase in serum insulin level, glucokinase (GK), aldolase, pyruvate kinase (PK), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and glycogen synthase activities  in addition to a higher expression level of insulin, insulin receptor A (IRA), GK, PK, SDH, and glucose transporting protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The C. speciosus has anti-hyperglycemic activity. It induces insulin secretion and release from cells, as well as stimulates the tissue's insulin sensitivity leading to an increase of the tissues' glucose uptake, storage, and oxidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt. E-mail. abomariem_1983@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Haytham A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Omar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Almaghrabi
authors.forename: Mohamed E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Afifi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D029770:Costus; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005941:Glucokinase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051273:Glucose Transporter Type 2; D006006:Glycogen Synthase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D051273:Glucose Transporter Type 2; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; D006006:Glycogen Synthase; D005941:Glucokinase; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D005634:Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase