title: Anti-Hyperglycemic Effect of a Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) Vine Extract in Ovariectomized Mice.
abstract: Postmenopausal diabetes is exacerbated by estrogen deficiency. Ovariectomized (OVX) animal models can be used to develop strategies for preventing or treating postmenopausal symptoms. We previously found that a diet containing kudzu (Pueraria lobata) vine ethanol extract (PVEE) suppressed weight gain in OVX mice. Therefore, this study further elucidated how PVEE affected OVX mice. Ten-week-old OVX or sham-operated mice were fed diets containing either no PVEE (control) or 20 mg•kg-1•d-1PVEE for 8 wk, 5 mg•kg-1•d-1PVEE for 24 wk, or 20 mg•kg-1•d-1puerarin (daidzein-8-C-glucoside), a major isoflavone present in PVEE, for 10 wk. The effects of puerarin on glucose tolerance were also tested in OVX mice. The experimental diets were not associated with any abnormalities in any mice tested in the present study. Weight gain and serum glucose levels were increased in OVX mice and these effects were significantly attenuated in OVX mice that consumed PVEE (5 or 20 mg•kg-1•d-1) or puerarin. Puerarin-treated OVX mice also showed reduced serum glucose levels following administration of 1,000 mg•kg-1glucose. These results suggested that puerarin contributed to PVEE-mediated improvements in glucose metabolism in OVX mice. Although further studies are needed to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying these observations, PVEE and puerarin could provide effective approaches to the amelioration of postmenopausal diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kinki University.
authors.forename: Teruyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: Hanjun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaima
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawamura
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010052:Ovariectomy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017698:Postmenopause; D029908:Pueraria / Q000737:chemistry*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D007529:Isoflavones; D020738:Leptin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; C033607:puerarin