title: Evaluation of theIn VivoTherapeutic Effects of Radix Paeoniae Rubra Ethanol Extract with the Hypoglycemic Activities Measured from Multiple Cell-Based Assays.
abstract: Background. Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Chi Shao) contains several phytochemicals with hypoglycemic actions. Current research aims to explore potential insulinotropic effects and long-term therapeutic efficacy of such herb against type 2 diabetes.Methods. Composition analysis for the ethanol extract (PRExt) was executed by high performance liquid chromatography. Polyphenol-enriched fraction was characterized by high pressure size exclusion chromatography. Multiple cell platforms were employed to evaluate hypoglycemic bioactivities. In animal experiments, blood glucose, the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-index assessment, glucose tolerance test, andin vivoglucose uptake were all measured. Additional effects of PRExt on obesity and hepatic steatosis were evaluated by serum and histological analysis.Results. PRExt provides multiple hypoglycemic effects including the enhancement of glucose-mediated insulin secretion. Pentagalloylglucose and polyphenol-enriched fraction are two insulinotropic constituents. Moreover, PRExt intraperitoneal injection causes acute hypoglycemic effects on fasted db/db mice. Oral administration of PRExt (200 mg/kg b.w.) gradually reduces blood glucose in db/db mice to the level similar to that in C57J/B6 mice after 30 days. The improvement of glucose intolerance, HOMA-index, andin vivoglucose uptake is evident in addition to the weight loss effect and attenuation of hepatic steatosis.Conclusion. PRExt is an effective antidiabetic herbal extract with multiple hypoglycemic bioactivities.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yun-Lian
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ren-Shyan
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Juan
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wan-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huey Jen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Tsay
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science, National Hsinchu University of Education, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Chen
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5529-6097
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: The Centre of Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; The Ph.D. Program for Medical Biotechnology, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Basic Chinese Medicine, National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program for the Clinical Drug Discovery from Herbal Medicine, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hui-Kang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5297-6836
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Liu