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Background and Purpose Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an important target for diabetes therapy based on its key role in maintaining glucose and lipid homeostasis. This study was designed to investigate antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects of novel oleanolic acid derivative DKS26 in diabetic mice and elucidate its underlying GLP-1 related antidiabetic mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. Experimental Approach The therapeutic effects of DKS26 were inspected in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced and db/db diabetic mouse models including levels of plasma glucose, glycosylated serum protein (GSP), lipid profiles, insulin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), oral glucose tolerance (OGT), pancreatic islets and hepatic histopathological morphology, liver lipid levels and expression of pro-inflammation cytokines. The intestinal NCI-H716 cells and diabetic models were used to further validate its potential GLP-1 related antidiabetic mechanisms. Key Results Decreased levels of plasma glucose, GSP, ALT and AST, ameliorated OGT and plasma lipid profiles, augmented plasma insulin levels, alleviated islets and hepatic pathological morphology, and reduced liver lipid, inflammation and necrosis accumulation were observed after DKS26 treatment at a dose of 100 mg·kg-1·day-1 in vivo. Furthermore, DKS26 enhanced GLP-1 release and expression, accompanied by elevated levels of cAMP and phosphorylated PKA in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion and Implications DKS26 exerted hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and islets protective effects, which was associated with promoted GLP-1 release and expression mediated by the activated cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, and mitigated hepatic damage through the reduction of liver lipid and inflammation. These findings firmly identified DKS26 as a new viable therapeutic option for diabetes control.

Accumulating clinical evidence indicates that diabetic liver cancer patients are less sensitive to intra-arterial chemotherapy than non-diabetic cancer patients. However, the underlying mechanism remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we report that hyperglycemia inhibits AMPK pathway and subsequently reduces adriamycin (ADR)-induced DNA damage, resulting in decreased chemotherapeutic sensitivity of ADR. HepG2 and Bel-7402 cells were treated with ADR in various glucose conditions and then subjected to cell proliferation assay and apoptosis. The IC50of ADR greatly increased with the increasing concentration of glucose (15 ± 4 nM to 93 ± 39 nM in HepG2, 78 ± 8 nM to 1310 ± 155 nM in Bel-7402). Both FACs and Western blot analysis indicated that high concentration of glucose protected cells from ADR-induced apoptosis. Mouse hepatoma H22 xenografts were established both in db/db diabetic mice and STZ-induced diabetic mice. The inhibitory effect in tumor growth of ADR was significantly reduced in diabetic mice, which could be recovered by insulin therapy. Hyperglycemia greatly ameliorated AMPK activation and H2AX expression caused by ADR treatment. Pretreatment with compound C or AMPK silencing eliminated hyperglycemia reduced cytotoxicity of ADR. However, the impaired cytotoxicity in hyperglycemia was recovered by treatment with AMPK activator AICAR. This study indicates that hyperglycemia impairs the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of ADR by downregulating AMPK pathway and reducing ADR-induced DNA damage.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The radix of Acorus calamus L. (AC) is widely used in diabetes therapies in traditional folk medicine from America and Indonesia, and we have previously reported that the ethyl acetate fraction of AC (ACE) acts as an antidiabetic through insulin sensitizing, insulin releasing and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities. The present study is designed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanisms of ACE on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) expression and secretion related to its hypoglycemic effects. Materials and methods The hypoglycemic effect of ACE (100 mg/kg, i.g.) was confirmed by testing blood glucose levels or via oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in streptozotocin (STZ) induced hyperglycemic mice, db/db diabetic mice and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. Plasma insulin, GLP-1 levels and intestinal GLP-1 related gene expression were determined in STZ-induced and db/db diabetic mice. The in vitro effects of ACE (12.5 μg/ml) on the expression and secretion of GLP-1 were detected in NCI-H716 intestinal L-cells, and the correlation between ACE and molecules in the Wnt signaling pathway was further explored. Results ACE (100 mg/kg) significantly lowered fasting blood glucose in STZ-induced and db/db diabetic mice and improved the OGTT in DIO mice. Insulin releasing and islet protective effects, along with the increased secretion of GLP-1, were observed. The expression of proglucagon gene ( gcg ) and post-translational processing gene prohormone convertase 3 ( pc3 ) and the GLP-1 content in the culture medium of L-cells notably increased after the ACE treatment (12.5 μg/ml). At the same time, β-catenin nuclear translocation occurred, and its downstream protein cyclin D1 was activated, showing the involvement of Wnt signaling. Conclusions ACE might activate Wnt signaling to increase the gene expression of gcg and pc3 and exert incretin effects, including insulinotropic and islet protection, to lower blood glucose levels via elevated GLP-1 secretion either directly or indirectly.

Acorus calamus L. (AC), family Araceae, have been used in the Indian and Chinese systems of medicine for hundreds of years. The radix of AC is widely used in the therapy of diabetes in traditional folk medicine of America and Indonesia. Aim of the study To investigate the insulin sensitizing activity and antidiabetic effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of AC (ACE). Materials and methods Glucose consumption mediated by insulin was detected in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells. Diabetes and its complications related indexes were monitored after orally administrating to genetically obese diabetic C57BL/Ks db/db mice daily for 3 weeks. Results ACE (12.5 and 25 μg/ml) increased glucose consumption mediated by insulin in L6 cells (p

To examine the insulin sensitizing effects of a novel α-methyl-α-phenoxylpropionate derivative YY20 in insulin-sensitive cell lines. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist bioactivities of YY20 were detected by a preadipocyte differentiation assay. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis were used to detect the expression of the target gene or protein. The effects of YY20 on insulin-mediated glucose consumption were determined in the HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma line. YY20 could enhance the differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes and upregulate the gene expression of PPARγ2, as well as the protein expression of insulin receptor sub-strate-1 (IRS-1), glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4), and adiponectin (ACRP30). The effects on GLUT4 and ACRP30 could be reversed by the PPARγ inhibitor SR-202. Furthermore, YY20 efficiently reduced glucose consumptions in HepG2 cells after 24 h culture, and the effects were related to insulin and YY20 concentrations. YY20, a potential insulin-sensitizing agent like rosiglitazone, could enhance glucose consumption in HepG2 cells in a concentration- and insulin-dependent manner. It may improve the insulin resistance associated with type 2 diabetes.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The radix of Acorus calamus L. (AC) is widely used in the therapy of diabetes in traditional folk medicine of America and Indonesia, and we previously reported the insulin sensitizing activity of the ethyl acetate fraction of AC (ACE). Aim of the study To investigate the insulin releasing and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of ACE in vitro and in vivo . Materials and methods Insulin releasing and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory effects of different fractions from AC were detected in vitro using HIT-T15 cell line and alpha-glucosidase enzyme. Furthermore, effects of ACE orally on serum glucose were detected in fasted and glucose/amylum challenged normal mice. Results AC and ACE increased insulin secretion in HIT-T15 cells as gliclazide did. As in vivo results, ACE (400 and 800 mg/kg) significantly decreased fasting serum glucose, and suppressed the increase of blood glucose levels after 2 g/kg glucose loading in normal mice. In addition, ACE as a mixed-type inhibitor inhibited alpha-glucosidase activity in vitro with an IC 50 of 0.41 μg/ml, and 100 mg/kg of it clearly reduced the increase of blood glucose levels after 5 g/kg amylum loading in normal mice. Conclusions Apart from its insulin sensitizing effect, ACE may have hypoglycemic effects via mechanisms of insulin releasing and alpha-glucosidase inhibition, and thus improves postprandial hyperglycemia and cardiovascular complications.

A series of phenylalanine derivatives were synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated. Compounds (S)-3 and (R)-3 exhibited more potent insulin-releasing activity than that of nateglinide, compound (S)-3 also showed insulin-sensitizing activity in vitro. Both compounds were tested for hypoglycemia effect in vivo.

A series of phenylalanine derivatives were synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated. Compounds (S)-3 and (R)-3 exhibited more potent insulin-releasing activity than that of nateglinide, compound (S)-3 also showed insulin-sensitizing activity in vitro. Both compounds were tested for hypoglycemia effect in vivo.

To examine the insulin sensitizing effects of a novel alpha-methyl-alpha- phenoxylpropionate derivative YY20 in insulin-sensitive cell lines.The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) agonist bioactivities of YY20 were detected by a preadipocyte differentiation assay. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis were used to detect the expression of the target gene or protein. The effects of YY20 on insulin-mediated glucose consumption were determined in the HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma line.YY20 could enhance the differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes and upregulate the gene expression of PPAR gamma 2, as well as the protein expression of insulin receptor substrate- 1 (IRS-1), glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4), and adiponectin (ACRP30). The effects on GLUT4 and ACRP30 could be reversed by the PPAR gamma inhibitor SR-202. Furthermore, YY20 efficiently reduced glucose consumptions in HepG2 cells after 24 h culture, and the effects were related to insulin and YY20 concentrations.YY20, a potential insulin-sensitizing agent like rosiglitazone, could enhance glucose consumption in HepG2 cells in a concentration- and insulindependent manner. It may improve the insulin resistance associated with type 2 diabetes.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) such as rosiglitazone are antidiabetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists. PPARgamma agents improve diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity and enhancing the differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes. The present study aimed to identify if 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-indoleacetitic acid (GY3), a newly synthesized indole compound, could enhance adipocytes differentiation and insulin sensitivity. The results showed that both GY3 and rosiglitazone significantly increased the lipid accumulating of 3T3-L1 adipocytes induced by isobutylmethylxanthine, dexamethasone and insulin mixture, but GY3 (not rosiglitazone) failed to increase the lipid accumulation when induced by insulin alone. In addition, GY3- or rosiglitaozne-induced protein expression of GLUT4 and adiponectin was determined by Western blot analysis. GY3 activated PPARalpha weakly but did not affect PPARgamma, while rosiglitazone activated PPARgamma significantly, suggesting different mechanisms between GY3 and rosiglitazone on adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, both GY3 and rosiglitazone enhanced the adiponectin and insulin pathway proteins expression and adiponectin secretion in mature adipocytes, but only GY3 not rosiglitazone elevated gene expression of leptin and resistin. Both GY3 and rosiglitazone enhanced glucose consumption in HepG2 cells especially in the presence of insulin. In the in vivo study, GY3 decreased serum glucose and insulin in db/db mice, indicating the insulin sensitizing effect might contribute to its antidiabetic mechanism. Altogether, these results suggest that GY3 could improve insulin resistance and lower glucose level, GY3 and its derivatives might be developed as a substitution therapy for diseases with insulin resistance.

To study the anti-hyperglycemic effect and its mechanism of Dendrobium candidum (DC).Normal mice, adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic mice, streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ-DM) rats were used. The mechanisms of the anti-hyperglycemic action were studied with radio-immunoassay, immunohistochemical HRP-SPA stain, etc.DC could not obviously decrease the serum glucose concentrations and insulin levels in normal mice. It could increase serum insulin levels and decrease serum glucagons concentrations in STZ-DM rats. The results of immunohistochemical stain demonstrated that the number of islet beta cells was increased and that of islet a cells was decreased in STZ-DM rats. It could also decrease the serum glucose concentrations and increase liver glucogen contents in adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic mice.DC has obvious anti-hyperglycemic effects in adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic mice and STZ-DM rats. Its mechanisms are stimulating the secretion of insulin from beta cells and inhibiting the secretion of glucagons from a cells, and it can probably decrease the decomposition of liver glucogen and increase the synthesis of liver glucogen.