Planta Med 2009; 75(5): 472-477
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185304
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Rhaponticin from Rhubarb Rhizomes Alleviates Liver Steatosis and Improves Blood Glucose and Lipid Profiles in KK/Ay Diabetic Mice

Jinlong Chen1 [*] , Mengmeng Ma2 [*] , Yanwei Lu1 , Lisheng Wang1 , Chutse Wu1 , Haifeng Duan1
  • 1Department of Experimental Haematology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine (BIRM), Beijing, P. R. China
  • 2Beijing Institute of Chemical Defense, Beijing, P. R. China
Further Information

Publication History

received April 22, 2008 revised Nov 18, 2008

accepted Dec 1, 2008

Publication Date:
23 February 2009 (online)

Abstract

We isolated several stilbene compounds including rhaponticin (3′,5-dihydroxy-4′-methoxystilbene 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside) from extracts of rhubarb rhizomes. These compounds showed significant hypoglycemic effects in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic rats and mice. In this study, we investigated the effect of rhaponticin on glucose utilization, lipid metabolism, and liver and heart function in a KK/Ay type 2 diabetic mouse model. The results showed that oral administration of rhaponticin (125 mg/kg) significantly reduced blood glucose levels and improved oral glucose tolerance of KK/Ay diabetic mice. Elevated plasma triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol (CHO), non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA), and insulin levels were also markedly attenuated. Serum enzymatic activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the rhaponticin-treated group significantly decreased in comparison to the untreated model group. Livers of rhaponticin-treated mice had relatively normal cellular size and decreased fibrosis and steatosis. In addition, rhaponticin administration caused a remarkable increase in the hepatic glycogen content and a significant reduction in the hepatic triglyceride content. These results indicate that rhaponticin has a noticeable antidiabetic effect and could be potentially used as a new agent to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications.

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1 These authors contributed equally to this work.

Dr. Haifeng Duan

Department of Experimental Haematology
Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine (BIRM)

27 Taiping Road

Beijing

People's Republic of China

Phone: + 86 10 66 93 02 30

Fax: + 86 10 68 21 46 53

Email: duanhf0720@yahoo.com.cn

Prof. Chutse Wu

Department of Experimental Haematology
Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine (BIRM)

27 Taiping Road

Beijing

People's Republic of China

Phone: + 86 10 66 93 00 08

Fax: + 86 10 68 15 83 11

Email: wuct@nic.bmi.ac.cn