To develop a ginseng product possessing an efficacy for diabetes, ginseng radix
ethanol extract was treated with
pectinase and obtained the GINST. In the present study, we evaluate the beneficial effect of GINST on high fat diet (HFD)-induced hyper-glycemia and
hyperlipidemia and action mechanism(s) in ICR mice. The mice were randomly divided into five groups: regular diet group (RD), high fat diet group (HFD), HFD plus GINST at 75 mg/kg (GINST75), 150 mg/kg (GINST150), and 300 mg/kg (GINST300). Oral
glucose tolerance test reveals that GINST improves the
glucose tolerance after
glucose challenge. Fasting plasma
glucose and
insulin levels were decreased by 4.3% and 4.2% in GINST75, 10.9% and 20.0% in GINST150, and 19.6% and 20.9% in GINST300 compared to those in HFD control group.
Insulin resistance indices were also markedly decreased by 8.2% in GINST75, 28.7% in GINST150, and 36.4% in GINST300, compared to the HFD control group. Plasma
triglyceride, total
cholesterol and non-
esterified fatty acid levels in the GINST300 group were decreased by 13.5%, 22.7% and 24.1%, respectively, compared to those in HFD control group. Enlarged adipocytes of HFD control group were markedly decreased in GINST-treated groups, and shrunken islets of HFD control mice were brought back to near normal shape in GINST300 group. Furthermore, GINST enhanced phosphorylation of
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and
glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). In summary, GINST prevents HFD-induced
hyperglycemia and
hyperlipidemia through reducing
insulin resistance via activating AMPK-GLUT4 pathways, and could be a potential therapeutic agent for
type 2 diabetes.