Institute of Pediatric Medicine, Soochow University Affiliated Children's Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215003, China.
Chin Med J (Engl). 2013;126(9):1647-53.
The effects of triterpenic acid from Prunella vulgaris L. (TAP) on diabetes and its mechanism are uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TAP on antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, and pancreas-protective in streptozotozin (STZ)-diabetic rats.
The diabetic model was produced by injection of 60 mg/kg STZ. Blood was drawn from the tail vein of rats after 72 hours. Rats with blood glucose ≥ 16.7 mmol/L were considered diabetic. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups: (1) Diabetes rat (STZ), (2) Diabetic rats treated with 50 mg/kg of triterpenic acid from Prunella vulgaris L (STZ + TAP50), (3) Diabetic rats treated with 100 mg/kg TAP (STZ + TAP100), and (4) Diabetic rats treated with 200 mg/kg TAP (STZ + TAP200). Normal rats (n = 10) acted as the control group (NC). TAP was administered by the intragastric route once each day for six weeks. Body weight and the concentration of blood glucose (BG) were measured after three and six weeks. Fructosamine (FMN), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO), and the activities of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum were determined after six weeks using commercially available kits following the manufacturer's instructions. Pathologic changes in pancreatic β-cells were also investigated by microscopic examination after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The level of SOD mRNA in pancreatic β-cells was measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
The levels of BG, FMN, NO, and MDA and the activities of NOS in serum in the four diabetes groups were significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The activity of SOD in serum and the body weight was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0.01). After administration of TAP to diabetic rats for six weeks, the body weight and the levels of BG, FMN, MDA, NO and the activity of NOS in serum decreased significantly compared with the STZ group in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of SOD in serum and body weight increased significantly compared with the STZ group in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in SOD mRNA expression in pancreatic β cells. However, these changes were reversed by TAP. Histopathological examination also showed the protective effect of TAP on pancreatic β cells.
Triterpenic acid from Prunella vulgaris L. has an anti-diabetic effect, by controlling blood glucose and antioxidants, and has a protective effect on the pancreas.
夏枯草中三萜酸（TAP）对糖尿病的影响及其机制尚不确定。本研究旨在探讨 TAP 对链脲佐菌素（STZ）致糖尿病大鼠的降血糖、抗氧化和胰腺保护作用。
通过注射 60mg/kg STZ 制备糖尿病模型。72 小时后从大鼠尾静脉采血。血糖≥16.7mmol/L 的大鼠视为糖尿病。糖尿病大鼠随机分为四组：（1）糖尿病大鼠（STZ），（2）50mg/kg 夏枯草三萜酸治疗的糖尿病大鼠（STZ+TAP50），（3）100mg/kg TAP 治疗的糖尿病大鼠（STZ+TAP100），和（4）200mg/kg TAP 治疗的糖尿病大鼠（STZ+TAP200）。正常大鼠（n=10）作为对照组（NC）。TAP 通过灌胃给药，每周一次，共 6 周。在第 3 周和第 6 周后测量体重和血糖（BG）浓度。使用市售试剂盒根据制造商的说明，测定血清中果糖胺（FMN）、丙二醛（MDA）和一氧化氮（NO）以及一氧化氮合酶（NOS）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的活性。通过苏木精-伊红（HE）染色后显微镜检查还研究了胰腺β细胞的病理变化。通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）测量胰腺β细胞中 SOD mRNA 的水平。
与对照组相比，四组糖尿病大鼠的 BG、FMN、NO 和 MDA 水平以及血清中 NOS 的活性显著升高（P<0.01）。与对照组相比，血清中 SOD 的活性和体重显著降低（P<0.01）。用 TAP 治疗糖尿病大鼠 6 周后，与 STZ 组相比，体重和 BG、FMN、MDA、NO 水平以及血清中 NOS 的活性呈剂量依赖性显著降低，血清中 SOD 的活性和体重呈剂量依赖性显著升高。此外，糖尿病大鼠胰腺β细胞中 SOD mRNA 的表达明显下降。然而，这些变化被 TAP 逆转。组织病理学检查还显示 TAP 对胰腺β细胞具有保护作用。
夏枯草中三萜酸具有降血糖作用，通过控制血糖和抗氧化作用，对胰腺具有保护作用。
