Medicina Alternativa e Integrativa

Regulation of Gene Expression in Downstream Signaling Molecules by Herbal Compound in Insulin Resistant Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Jafri AA, Sharma SB, Luthra K, Mehndiratta M, Khurana N, Singh UR

Background: In previous studies, Sharma et al. has already isolated an anti-hyperglycemic compound from the fruit pulp of Eugenia jambolana using HPLC and other chromatographic techniques. However, the effect of antihyperglycemic compound (FIIc) on the expression of PPAR gamma, IRS-1 and IRS-2 in high sucrose diet induced type 2 diabetic rats has not been studied so far.

Methods: There were exactly 24 Male Wistar rats were taken and fed on High Sucrose Diet (HSD) for the development of type 2 diabetic animal for 30 weeks. Active compound FIIc was given to group C and Pioglitazone to group D at dose of 20 mg/kg of b.w. orally for 30 weeks respectively. Blood was drawn for the estimation of plasma glucose and serum insulin at week o and at week 30 from retro orbital plexus. At the end of the study animal were sacrificed and organs including pancreas and skeletal muscles were isolated and stored at -80°C. Total RNA was isolated by using Trizol method and expression of PPAR gamma, IRS-1 and IRS-2 was quantified and compared among the study groups by Real Time PCR.

Results: After treatment with FIIc for 30 weeks we found a significant reduction in post prandial blood glucose levels in group C rats compared to group B. Serum insulin was also reduced in group C rats compared to group B. In skeletal muscles the mRNA expression of PPAR γ and IRS-1 was found to be 2.48 fold and 2.56 fold increased respectively as compared to group B. Similarly the mRNA expression of IRS-2 in pancreas was found to be 2.69 folds increased as compared to group B.

Conclusion: FIIc treatment for 30 weeks improves glycemic control and insulin sensitivity by increasing the mRNA expression of PPAR γ, IRS-1 and IRS-2.