ameliorates insulin resistance in high- fructose-fed insulin-resistant rats.

OBJECTIVES

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of extract on insulin sensitivity in high-fructose-fed insulin-resistant rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental rats were randomly divided into two groups: the control group was fed a regular chow diet while other group fed with a high-fructose diet for 8 weeks. After the first six weeks, the animals were treated with extract or pioglitazone for two weeks. Insulin and adiponectin levels were measured by ELISA. Additionally, Insulin resistance was calculated using a Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The plasma free fatty acid (FFA) profile was obtained by gas chromatography. PPARγ and GLUT4 gene expression were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western-blotting.

RESULTS

Comparing the treated group with the control group, weight gain (=0.009) and levels of insulin (=0.001), blood glucose (<0.0001), and HOMA-IR (<0.0001) were significantly reduced. Additionally, the adiponectin concentration was significantly increased (<0.0001). Among the FFA fractions, the mean concentration of palmitoleic acid and stearic acid in the group were significantly higher than the control group (<0.0001 and =0.005, respectively). However, there was no significant difference at the mRNA and protein level of GLUT4 and PPAR-γ between B. treated group and control group.

CONCLUSION

The study findings revealed that might be a protective candidate against Type 2 diabetes/insulin resistance through direct insulin-like effect and an increase in adiponectin levels. However, the mechanism of was independent of GLUT4 and PPARγ.