title: Gynura procumbensextract improves insulin sensitivity and suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis in C57BL/KsJ-db/dbmice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate whetherGynura procumbensextract (GPE) can improve insulin sensitivity and suppress hepatic glucose production in an animal model of type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  C57BL/Ksj-db/db mice were divided into 3 groups, a regular diet (control), GPE, and rosiglitazone groups (0.005 g/100 g diet) and fed for 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mice supplemented with GPE showed significantly lower blood levels of glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin than diabetic control mice. Glucose and insulin tolerance test also showed the positive effect of GPE on increasing insulin sensitivity. The homeostatic index of insulin resistance was significantly lower in mice supplemented with GPE than in the diabetic control mice. In the skeletal muscle, the expression of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase, pAkt substrate of 160 kDa, and PM-glucose transporter type 4 increased in mice supplemented with GPE when compared to that of the diabetic control mice. GPE also decreased the expression of glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in the liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate that GPE might improve insulin sensitivity and inhibit gluconeogenesis in the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pusan National University, Jangjeon 2-dong, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-In
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pusan National University, Jangjeon 2-dong, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Ah
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pusan National University, Jangjeon 2-dong, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 46241, Korea.; Research Institute of Ecology for the Elderly, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Han
keywords: Gluconeogenesis; Gynura procumbens; db/db mice; hyperglycemia; insulin resistance