Chikusetsu saponin IVa regulates glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation: implications in antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this study is to investigate antidiabetic effects and molecular mechanisms of the chemical Chikusetsu saponin IVa (CHS) that isolated from root bark of Aralia taibaiensis, which has multiple pharmacological activity, such as relieving rheumatism, promoting blood circulation to arrest pain and antidiabetic action.

METHODS:

Rats with streptozotocin/nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin-resistant myocytes were used. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase were quantified by immunoblotting. Assays of glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1) activity were performed.

KEY FINDINGS:

Chronic oral administration of CHS effectively decreases blood glucose, triglyceride, free fatty acid (FFA) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in T2DM rats. In both normal and insulin-resistant C2C12 myocytes, CHS activates AMPK, and increases glucose uptake or fatty acid oxidation through enhancing membrane translocation of GLUT4 or CPT-1 activity respectively. Knockdown of AMPK significantly diminishes the effects of CHS on glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation.

CONCLUSIONS:

CHS is a novel AMPK activator that is capable of bypassing defective insulin signalling and could be useful for the treatment of T2DM or other metabolic disorders.

• Authors: Yuwen Li, Tiejun Zhang, Jia Cui, Na Jia, Yin Wu, Miaomiao Xi, Aidong Wen
• Journal: The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology (J Pharm Pharmacol) Vol. 67 Issue 7 Pg. 997-1007 (Jul 2015) ISSN: 2042-7158 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25677570 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2015 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Fatty Acids
• Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
• Hypoglycemic Agents
• Hypolipidemic Agents
• Insulin
• Saponins
• Triglycerides
• chikusetsu saponin IVa
• Streptozocin
• Oleanolic Acid
• Glucose

Topics

• Animals
• Aralia (chemistry)
• Blood Glucose (drug effects)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental (blood, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (blood, chemically induced, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Fatty Acids (metabolism)
• Fatty Acids, Nonesterified (blood)
• Glucose (metabolism)
• Hypoglycemic Agents (pharmacology)
• Hypolipidemic Agents (pharmacology)
• Insulin (metabolism)
• Insulin Resistance (physiology)
• Male
• Oleanolic Acid (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Oxidation-Reduction (drug effects)
• Plant Bark (chemistry)
• Plant Roots (chemistry)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Saponins (pharmacology)
• Streptozocin (pharmacology)
• Triglycerides (blood)