Effects of Bofutsushosan and Gardeniae Fructus on Diabetic Serum Parameters in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

Abstract

Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice increased levels of serum glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol, and decreased level of serum insulin. Effects of Bofutsushosan (BOF: Pulvis ledebouriellae compositae: 防風通聖 散) and its composed crude drug, gardeniae fructus (GF: 山梔子) were investigated on levels of these diabetic parameters (serum glucose, insulin, triglyceride and cholesterol) in STZ-diabetic mice. BOF and GF were extracted in 10 volumes of distilled water with an automatic extractor "Torobi". STZ-induced diabetic mice with serum glucose level of over 600 mg/dl at 3-4 weeks after intravenous injection of 150 mg/kg STZ were used for experiments. BOF extract, GF extract, geniposide (a main constituent of GF), and glibenclamide were administered intraperitoneally into 3-hour-fasted STZ-diabetic mice. At 6 hours after administration, BOF extract (100-300 mg/kg) decreased high levels of serum glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol, and also increased low level of serum insulin in STZ-diabetic mice in a dose-dependent manner, respectively. Anti-diabetic drug glibenclamide (0.3-1 mg/kg) as positive control significantly decreased serum glucose and cholesterol levels, and increased serum insulin level in the diabetic mice. GF extract (30-300 mg/kg) decreased serum glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol levels but did not affect serum insulin level in the diabetic mice. Geniposide (10-100 mg/kg), decreased serum glucose level but did not affect serum insulin and triglyceride levels in the diabetic mice. These results demonstrated that intraperitoneally administrated BOF extract improved abnormal levels of serum glucose, insulin, triglyceride and cholesterol in the STZ-diabetic mice as being similar to glibenclamide. GF extract has an important role in a part of improving actions of BOF in the diabetic mice. The action of GF extract on serum glucose was parallel with the action of geniposide in the diabetic mice, supporting roles of geniposide in anti-hyperglycemic action of GF.