Antihyperglycemic and antioxidative effects of a herbal formulation of Radix Astragali, Radix Codonopsis and Cortex Lycii in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Phytother Res. 2009 May;23(5):658-65. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2694.

Abstract

There is emerging evidence that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to dysfunction of pancreatic beta-cells, is a major factor in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Antioxidation is one of the therapeutic strategies to overwhelm the imbalance in ROS production. In this study, a herbal formulation SR10, comprising Radix Astragali, Radix Codonopsis and Cortex Lycii, was examined for its antidiabetic and antioxidative effects using the diabetic +db/+db mouse model. The results showed that SR10 was effective in decreasing the blood glucose level in chronic treatment by improving beta-cell function. The activities and expression of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase, were up-regulated when treated with SR10. Moreover, SR10 treatment did not exhibit any toxic effect to the host.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Astragalus Plant / chemistry
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Codonopsis / chemistry
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects
  • Lycium / chemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Catalase
  • Superoxide Dismutase