Global Research Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Nov 21;144(2):225-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.08.009. Epub 2012 Aug 19.
Historical records reveal that in traditional medicine, a disease similar to diabetes was treated with ginseng. Korean red ginseng has been considered beneficial as a dietary supplement for its anti-diabetic potential.
This study was designed to investigate the prophylactic potential of Korean red ginseng (KRG) extract (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer Radix Rubra) in a well-established mouse model of Type 1 diabetes (T1D).
The prophylactic effect of KRG extract was evaluated in mice fed with KRG extract for two weeks prior to induction of diabetes by streptozotocin (STZ) administration. Glucose levels and glucose challenge test results of KRG-treated diabetic mice were compared to those of untreated diabetic mice and healthy control mice. Examination of the immune compartments in lymphoid organs and immunohistochemical staining of pancreas for islet cell morphology and insulin producing beta cells were performed.
KRG extract significantly lowered blood glucose levels to an average of 250mg/dl from 350mg/dl and improved glucose challenge testing when applied as prophylaxis. Histological findings indicated that KRG extract protected against STZ-induced destruction of pancreatic tissue and restored insulin secretion. Strikingly, this effect was accompanied by restoration of lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs, suggesting that KRG extract facilitated immune homeostasis.
This is the first report to demonstrate the prophylactic function of KRG extract in ameliorating the hyperglycemia of T1D. Immune compartments of diabetic mice were found to be preserved in KRG-treated mice suggesting that Korean red ginseng may benefit T1D patients, not only for its hypoglycemic but also for its immunomodulatory effects.
历史记载表明，在传统医学中，类似于糖尿病的疾病曾用人参治疗。由于具有抗糖尿病的潜力，韩国红参一直被认为是一种有益的膳食补充剂。
本研究旨在探讨韩国红参（KRG）提取物（Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer Radix Rubra）在 1 型糖尿病（T1D）的既定小鼠模型中的预防潜力。
在通过链脲佐菌素（STZ）给药诱导糖尿病之前，用 KRG 提取物喂养小鼠两周，评估 KRG 提取物的预防作用。将 KRG 处理的糖尿病小鼠的血糖水平和葡萄糖挑战测试结果与未处理的糖尿病小鼠和健康对照小鼠进行比较。检查淋巴器官中的免疫区室，并对胰腺进行胰岛细胞形态和产生胰岛素的β细胞的免疫组织化学染色。
KRG 提取物可显著降低血糖水平，从 350mg/dl 平均降低至 250mg/dl，并改善葡萄糖挑战测试的结果。组织学发现表明，KRG 提取物可预防 STZ 诱导的胰腺组织破坏，并恢复胰岛素分泌。引人注目的是，这种作用伴随着次级淋巴器官中淋巴细胞的恢复，表明 KRG 提取物促进了免疫稳态。
这是首次报道 KRG 提取物在改善 T1D 高血糖方面的预防作用。在 KRG 处理的小鼠中发现糖尿病小鼠的免疫区室得以保留，这表明韩国红参可能有益于 T1D 患者，不仅因为其降血糖作用，还因为其免疫调节作用。
