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Horm Metab Res 2006; 38(2): 76-81
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-925116
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Plasma Glucose-lowering Action of Hon-Chi in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

J.-C.  Chang1 , M.  C.  Wu1 , I.-M.  Liu2 , J.-T.  Cheng3
  • 1Department of Food Science, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung City
  • 2Department of Pharmacy, Tajen University, Yen-Pou, Pingtung Shien
  • 3Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan, R.O.C.
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Publication History

Received 11 August 2005

Accepted after revision 3 November 2005

Publication Date:
08 March 2006 (online)

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Abstract

Hon-Chi was used for anti-hyperglycemic activity screening in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ-diabetic rats) in an attempt to develop new substances for handling diabetes. Mandarin Hon-Chi is red yeast rice fermented with Monascus pilous and Monascus purpureus. Single oral administration of Hon-Chi decreased plasma glucose in STZ-diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner from 50 mg/kg to 350 mg/kg. Similar treatment with Hon-Chi also lowered the plasma glucose in normal rats as effectively as that produced in STZ-diabetic rats. In addition, oral administration of Hon-Chi at the highest dose (350 mg/kg) attenuated the elevation of plasma glucose induced by an intravenous glucose challenge test in normal rats. Moreover, mRNA levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in liver from STZ-diabetic rats were reversed in a dose-dependent manner by the repeated oral treatment of Hon-Chi three times daily for two weeks. Otherwise, hyperphagia in STZ-diabetic rats was markedly reversed by similar repeated treatment of Hon-Chi. The obtained results suggest that oral administration of Hon-Chi could decrease hepatic gluconeogenesis to lower plasma glucose in diabetic rats lacking insulin.

Key words

Intravenous glucose challenge test - phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase - Hon-Chi - streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

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Prof. Juei-Tang Cheng

Department of Pharmacology · College of Medicine · National Cheng Kung University · Tainan City · Taiwan 70101, R.O.C.

Phone: +886 (6) 237-2706

Fax: +886 (6) 238-6548 ·

Email: jtcheng@mail.ncku.edu.tw