title: The effect of Korean Red Ginseng extract on rosiglitazone-induced improvement of glucose regulation in diet-induced obese mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRG,Panax ginsengMeyer) and its constituents have been used for treating diabetes. However, in diet-induced obese mice, it is unclear whether KRG can enhance the glucose-lowering action of rosiglitazone (ROSI), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma synthetic activator.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral glucose tolerance tests (oGTTs) were performed after 4 days of treatment with a vehicle (CON), KRG [500 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)], ROSI (3.75 mg/kg b.w, 7.5 mg/kg b.w, and 15 mg/kg b.w.), or ROSI and KRG (RK) in obese mice on a high-fat diet. Adipose tissue morphology, crown-like structures (CLSs), and inflammation were compared by hematoxylin-eosin staining or quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The area under the glucose curve (AUC) was significantly lower in the RK group (15 mg/kg b.w. and 500 mg/kg b.w. for ROSI and KRG, respectively) than in the CON group. There was no significant difference in the AUC between the CON and the other groups. Furthermore, the AUC was significantly lower in the RK group than in the ROSI group. The expression of theCcl2gene and the number of CLSs were significantly reduced in the RK group than in the CON group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show a potential enhancement of ROSI-induced improvement of glucose regulation by the combined treatment with KRG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Na-Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mun-Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Boe-Gwun
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Korean Red Ginseng; adipose tissue; glucose regulation; inflammation; rosiglitazone