<i>Veratrilla baillonii</i> Franch alleviate the symptoms of diabetes in type 2 diabetic rats induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin
Chunlan Yan, Zhihao Zhang, Liqun Ma, Xinyi Xu, Muhammad Azhar, Xianju Huang, Jianxun Shi, Jun Li
Abstract
Our previous research studies have shown that <em>Veratrilla baillonii</em> Franch (<em>V</em>. baillonii), a food supplement used by ethnic minorities in Southwest China, has multiple pharmacological activities, such as detoxification, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-insulin resistance. However, the detailed signal pathways for its salutary effect on damages in multiple organs due to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unclear. The current study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of <em>V</em>. baillonii on T2DM rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms. The T2DM rat model was successfully established by a high-sugar and high-fat diet (HFD) combination with intraperitoneal injection of a small dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg/kg). Biochemical analysis and histopatholgical examinations were conducted to evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of water extracts of <em>V. baillonii</em> (WVBF). The results showed that the WVBF treatment can improve hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, ameliorate the liver, kidney and pancreas injuries via decreasing inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α, and oxidative damages. Further investigation suggested that WVBF modulates the signal transductions of the IRS1/PI3K/AKT/GLUT4 and AMPK pathways. These findings demonstrate potentials of WVBF in the treatment of T2DM and possible mechanisms for its hepatoprotective activities.