title: Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl (fruit) in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fruit of Forsythia suspense (Thunb.) Vahl, a well-known Chinese Materia Medica, has been traditionally used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of diabetes and some other diseases, but the rational for the usage of this plant is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of the fruit of F. suspensa using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crude methanol extract of F. suspense fruit was fractionated with different solvents and the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) was selected for in vivo studies based on the in vitro α-amylase and HMG-CoA reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A) inhibiting activities. For in vivo study, diabetes mellitus was induced in mice with STZ. Diabetic mice were orally administrated with 50, 100 and 200mg/kg body weight of EAF for 4 weeks. Mouse body weight, blood glucose, glucose tolerance, biochemical parameters and gene expression related to pancreas and liver function were analyzed after EAF administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 4 weeks of EAF intervention, a significant decrease in blood glucose, triglyceride, creatinine total cholesterol, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and hepatic lipid (triglycerides and cholesterol) content as well as a significant increase in body weight, insulin secretion and glucose tolerance was observed in EAF treated diabetic mice. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that EAF antagonized STZ-induced alteration of the expression of rate-limiting enzymes (glucokinase and phosphorenolpyruvate carboxykinase) in liver and insulin secretion related genes insulin-1, insulin-2 and duodenal homeobox factor-1 in pancreas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ethyl acetate extract of Forsythia suspense (Thunb.) Vahl fruit has potency to develop an antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic agent for the treatment of diabetes mellitus via modulation of oxidative stress, the hepatic glucose metabolism and pancreatic insulin secretion.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Zhongwen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China. Electronic address: yaoyao3153@aliyun.com.
authors.forename: Qingwu W
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D031657:Forsythia / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013311:Streptozocin; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D013311:Streptozocin; C007650:ethyl acetate; D000516:alpha-Amylases
keywords: Antidiabetic; Antihyperlipidemic; Diabetes mellitus; Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl; Insulin secretion