• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.4 s.143
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• pp.291-298
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• 2005

Anti-hyperglycemic effects of 17 medicinal plants that have been used for ameliorating diabetes in oriental medicine were evaluated using glucose transport assay in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Higher activities were obtained by treating water or alcohol extract of Phellodendri Cortex (PC), which showed enhancing effects both on basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. The latter effect of PC was completely inhibited by wortmannin, a specific inhibitor for phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), but not affected by SB203580, A specific inhibitor for p38 mitogen-activatedprotein kinase(MAPK). Genistein, an inhibitor for tyrosine kinases, abolished the PC effects completely. Treatment of vanadate, an inhibitor for tyrosine phosphatases, together with PC showed no significant synergic enhancement in glucose uptake. The results of inhibitors associated with insulin signaling pathway indicated that extracts of PC enhance glucose uptake by PI-3 kinase activation which is an upstream event for GLUT4 translocation. Antidiabetic effects of PC extract might be also due to enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation and reduced tyrosine dephosphorylation. In addition, PC accelerated insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in insulin-resistant cells, recovering the uptake level close to that of normal cells. These findings may offer a new way to utilize extracts of PC as novel anti-hyperglycemic agents.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.192-197
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• 2010

Recent studies have indicated that $\beta$-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are important factors in the development of type 2 diabetes. The present study investigated the effect of extracts from different parts of white, Taegeuk, and red ginseng root on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in muscle cells and proliferation of $\beta$-cells. Extracts of the fine roots of Taegeuk ginseng significantly enhanced glucose uptake compared with the control. White ginseng lateral root extracts enhanced insulin-induced glucose uptake. Proliferation of $\beta$-cells was significantly increased by Taegeuk ginseng main and lateral root extracts and by red ginseng lateral and fine root extracts. In conclusion, different root parts of white, Taegeuk, and red ginseng differentially affect glucose uptake and pancreatic $\beta$-cell proliferation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 1990

The effects of insulin and exercise on glucose uptake of skeletal muscle were investigated in soleus muscle isolated from low dose streptozotocin induced diabetic rats in vitro. Glucose uptake was assessed by measuring $^3H$-methylglucose uptake in vitro. Basal glucose uptake in diabetes was reduced by approximately one-third of the control value($5.6{\pm}0.73{\mu}Mol$/g/20min. in diabetes versus $8.4{\pm}0.77$ in control, P<0.01). There was also a significant decrease(P<0.01) in glucose uptake of diabetes at physiologic insulin concentration ($200{\mu}IU$/ml) by 40% ($6.1{\pm}1.20$ versus $10.0{\pm}0.81$). Furthermore, maximal insulin($20000{\mu}IU$/ml)-stimulated glucose uptake was 36% lower in diabetes as compared with control($7.3{\pm}1.29$ versus $11.4{\pm}1.29$, P<0.01). In contrast, exercise(1.0km/hr, treadmill running for 45min.) effect on glucose uptake was so dramatic in diabetes that glucose uptake at basal state was 8.4+1.09 and insulin stimulated-glucose uptake were $10.2{\pm}1.47$ and $11.9{\pm}1.64$, in 200 and $20000{\mu}IU$/ml added insulin, respectively. These results suggest that insulin insensitivity develops in skeletal muscle after 2 weeks of streptozotocin-induced diabetes, but these insensitivity was recovered significantly by single session of running exercise.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2005

Soy and soy foods are a rich source of isoflavones, which possess several biological activities. The effect of soy isoflavones, genistin and diadzin and their respective aglycones, on glucose uptake in adipocytes isolated from normal or high-fat fed rats was examined. As expected, insulin stimulated glucose uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. However, genistin and daidzin and their aglycones inhibited glucose uptake in a concentration-dependent (25-100μM) manner. In a time-course response, the aglycones significantly inhibited glucose uptake throughout 3 hr (after 30, 60, 120, 180 min), whereas the glycones only significantly inhibited the glucose uptake after 120 min and 180 min in the isolated rat adipocytes. Thus, the glucosides of genistein and daidzein, i.e. genistin and daidzin, were much less effective in inhibiting glucose uptake than their aglycones. In addition, genistin and daidzin did not significantly affect the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, whereas genistein and daidzein did significantly inhibited glucose uptake compared to the vehicle control group by 47.5% and 24.8%, respectively (p < 0.05). The isoflavones also significantly inhibited glucose uptake in adipocytes isolated from rats fed a high-fat diet (50% of total calorie intake) when compared to the vehicle control. Finally, the isoflavones were found to enhance lipolysis in adipocytes isolated from high-fat fed rats, where the glycerol released by the aglycones was also higher than that released by the glycones. The current results showed that the inhibitory effect of daidzein on glucose uptake was very similar to that of genistein. The aglycones were more potent in inhibiting the uptake of glucose and a more potent stimulator of lypolysis than the glycones in adipocytes isolated from high-fat fed rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2014

Essential fatty acid (EFA) is known to be required for the body to function normally and healthily. However, the effect of EFA on glucose uptake in skeletal muscle has not yet been fully investigated. In this study, we examined the effect of two EFAs, linoleic acid (LA) and ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (ALA), on glucose uptake of C2C12 skeletal muscle cells and investigated the mechanism underlying the stimulatory effect of polyunsaturated EFAs in comparison with monounsaturated oleic acid (OA). In palmitic acid (PA)-induced insulin resistant cells, the co-treatment of EFAs and OA with PA almost restored the PA-induced decrease in the basal and insulin-stimulated 2-NBDG (fluorescent D-glucose analogue) uptake, respectively. Two EFAs and OA significantly protected PA-induced suppression of insulin signaling, respectively, which was confirmed by the increased levels of Akt phosphorylation and serine/threonine kinases ($PKC{\theta}$ and JNK) dephosphorylation in the western blot analysis. In PA-untreated, control cells, the treatment of $500{\mu}M$ EFA significantly stimulated 2-NBDG uptake, whereas OA did not. Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and one of its downstream molecules, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) was markedly induced by EFA, but not OA. In addition, EFA-stimulated 2-NBDG uptake was significantly inhibited by the pre-treatment of a specific AMPK inhibitor, adenine 9-${\beta}$-D-arabinofuranoside (araA). These data suggest that the restoration of suppressed insulin signaling at PA-induced insulin resistant condition and AMPK activation are involved at least in the stimulatory effect of EFA on glucose uptake in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.568-578
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Psidium guajava L. (guava) leaves have been shown to exhibit hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects in rodents. This study investigated the effects of guava leaf extract on adipogenesis, glucose uptake, and lipolysis of adipocytes to examine whether the antidiabetic properties are mediated through direct effects on adipocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were treated with 25, 50, 100 ㎍/mL of methanol extract from guava leaf extract (GLE) or 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide as a control. Lipid accumulation was evaluated with Oil Red O Staining and AdipoRed assay. Immunoblotting was performed to measure the expression of adipogenic transcription factors, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Glucose uptake under basal or insulin-stimulated condition was measured using a glucose analog 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose. Lipolysis from fully differentiated adipocytes was measured by free fatty acids release into the culture medium in the presence or absence of epinephrine. RESULTS: Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay have shown that GLE treatment reduced lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation. Mitotic clonal expansion, an early essential event for adipocyte differentiation, was inhibited by GLE treatment. GLE inhibited the expression of transcription factors involved in adipocyte differentiation, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor 𝛄 (PPAR𝛄), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). FAS expression was also decreased while the phosphorylation of AMPK was increased by GLE treatment. In addition, GLE increased insulin-induced glucose uptake into adipocytes. In lipid-filled mature adipocytes, GLE enhanced epinephrine-induced lipolysis but reduced basal lipolysis dose-dependently. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that GLE inhibits adipogenesis and improves adipocyte function by reducing basal lipolysis and increasing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes, which can be partly associated with antidiabetic effects of guava leaves.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.92.1-92.12
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• 2021

Background: Naringin and its aglycone naringenin are citrus-derived flavonoids with several pharmacological effects. On the other hand, the mechanism for the anti-diabetic effects of naringenin and naringin are controversial and remain to be clarified further. Objective: This study examined the relationship between glucose uptake and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation by naringenin and naringin in high glucose-treated HepG2 cells. Methods: Glucose uptake was measured using the 2-NBDG fluorescent D-glucose analog. The phosphorylation levels of AMPK and GSK3β (Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta) were observed by Western blotting. Molecular docking analysis was performed to evaluate the binding affinity of naringenin and naringin to the γ-subunit of AMPK. Results: The treatment with naringenin and naringin stimulated glucose uptake regardless of insulin stimulation in high glucose-treated HepG2 cells. Both flavonoids increased glucose uptake by promoting the phosphorylation of AMPK at Thr172 and increased the phosphorylation of GSK3β. Molecular docking analysis showed that both naringenin and naringin bind to the γ-subunit of AMPK with high binding affinities. In particular, naringin showed higher binding affinity than the true modulator, AMP with all three CBS domains (CBS1, 3, and 4) in the γ-subunit of AMPK. Therefore, both naringenin and naringin could be positive modulators of AMPK activation, which enhance glucose uptake regardless of insulin stimulation in high glucose-treated HepG2 cells. Conclusions: The increased phosphorylation of AMPK at Thr172 by naringenin and naringin might enhance glucose uptake regardless of insulin stimulation in high glucose treated HepG2 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 2010

Phenolic acid concentrates of rice bran(RB-ex) and hydroxycinnamic acids were investigated for their anti-hyperglycemic activities through glucose uptake and glucokinase activity using HepG2 cells and stimulatory effects on insulin secretion using HIT-T15 cells. RB-ex was prepared as an ethylacetate extract after alkaline hydrolysis and hydroxycinnamic acids, found as major compositions of RB-ex, such as ferulic acid(FA), sinapic acid(SA) and p-coumaric acid(p-CA) were investigated to compare with the properties of RB-ex. The properties of glucose uptake in HepG2 cells were examined in the absence of insulin and two different glucose concentrations(5.5 mM and 25 mM). RB-ex and FA showed anti-hyperglycemic activities through the increase of glucose uptake and the stimulation of glucokinase activity in HepG2 cells. RB-ex exhibited higher glucose uptakes with higher glucose concentrations, whereas FA exhibited the same increasing effects on both concentrations of glucose. RB-ex and FA exhibited doubled glucokinase activities relative to control. In the presence of insulin in the 25 mM glucose-containing medium, the levels of glucose uptake were increased in all treatments compared with control. As stimulatory effects of samples on insulin secretion were estimated, RB-ex and FA stimulated insulin secretion at a concentration of 25 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and in particular, FA showed the highest amount of insulin-release in HIT-T15 cells. Antioxidative effects on HIT-T15 cells, RB-ex and hydroxycinnamic acids, excluding p-CA, showed inhibitory activities of 78% to 80% at a concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. On the basis of these results, we conclude that RB-ex and FA could help decrease blood glucose levels and prevent the cell damages via antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.289-294
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• 2017

Diabetes mellitus is associated with insulin resistance, which leads to down-regulation of insulin signaling and the decreased glucose uptake. Adipocytes are sensitive to insulin, and closely implicated in insulin resistance and diabetes. Insulin stimulates differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes, and increases glucose transport. Allium species have been used as traditional medicine and health-promoting foods. Allium hookeri (A. hookeri) is reported to improve the pancreatic ${\beta}-cell$ damage and exhibit pancreatic anti-inflammatory activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We investigated whether A. hookeri extract (AHE) may stimulate glucose uptake in adipocytes through increasing insulin sensitivity. AHE enhanced fat accumulation, a differentiation biomarker, under the partial induction of differentiation by insulin. $PPAR{\gamma}$, a transcription factor highly expressed in adipocytes, promotes adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity. AHE increased the differentiation of preadipocytes through up-regulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$. The activation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ increases the GLUT4 expression during adipocyte differentiation. GLUT4 is responsible for glucose uptake into the adipocytes. AHE increased the expression of GLUT4 in adipocytes, and subsequently enhanced the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. These results suggest that AHE promotes adipocyte differentiation through activation of $PPAR{\gamma}$, and leads to enhance glucose uptake in adipocytes along with GLUT4 up-regulation. Thus, AHE may be effective for the insulin-sensitizing and anti-diabetic activities.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 1999

We investigated the role of $Ca^{2+}$ and protein kinases/phosphatases in the stimulatory effect of insulin on glucose transport. In isolated rat adipocytes, the simple omission of $CaCl_2$ from the incubation medium significantly reduced, but did not abolish, insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy glucose (2-DG) uptake. Pre-loading adipocytes with intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, 5,5'-dimethyl bis (o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N'N' tetraacetic acetoxymethyl ester (5,5'-dimethyl BAPTA/AM) completely blocked the stimulation. Insulin raised intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ about 1.7 times the basal level of $72{\pm}5$ nM, and 5,5'-dimethyl BAPTA/AM kept it constant at the basal level. This correlation between insulin-induced increases in 2-DG uptake and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ indicates that the elevation of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ may be prerequisite for the stimulation of glucose transport. Studies with inhibitors (ML-9, KN-62, cyclosporin A) of $Ca^{2+}-calmodulin$ dependent protein kinases/phosphatases also indicate an involvement of intracellular $Ca^{2+}.$ Additional studies with okadaic acid and calyculin A, protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) and 2A (PP-2A) inhibitors, indicate an involvement of PP-1 in insulin action on 2-DG uptake. These results indicate an involvement of $Ca^{2+}-dependent$ signaling pathway in insulin action on glucose transport.