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Protective effects of an herbal formulation of Radix Astragali , Radix Codonopsis and Cortex Lycii on streptozotocin‐induced apoptosis in pancreatic β ‐cells: an implication for its treatment of diabetes mellitus
Author(s) -
Chan Judy YuetWa,
Leung PingChung,
Che ChunTao,
Fung KwokPui
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.2285
Subject(s) - streptozotocin , apoptosis , radix (gastropod) , diabetes mellitus , nitric oxide , oxidative stress , codonopsis , reactive oxygen species , nitric oxide synthase , pharmacology , medicine , traditional medicine , endocrinology , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , traditional chinese medicine , pathology , botany , alternative medicine
Hyperglycemia is one of the main causes of oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus. During hyperglycemia, the increased level of various reducing sugars in the blood enhances the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggers tissue damage, especially in pancreatic β ‐cells. Streptozotocin (STZ) is a diabetogen that causes diabetes mellitus via ROS‐induced apoptosis in β ‐cells. In this study, SR10, an herbal formulation consisting of the aqueous extracts of Radix Astragali , Radix Codonopsis and Cortex Lycii was examined for its antidiabetic effects in vitro . SR10 treatment resulted in significant enhancement of survival rate of rat pancreatic β ‐cells which were treated by streptozotocin. SR10 apparently reduced apoptosis of streptozotocin‐treated β ‐cells by decreasing DNA fragmentation, sub‐G 1 peak area and percentage of apoptotic cells. Nitric oxide (NO) production in streptozotocin‐treated cells was inhibited by SR10 via the suppression of the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The implication of SR10 in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus was discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.