Effects of Oral Administration of Herb-combined Remedy of Diabetes Mellitus on Blood Glucose Levels and Anti-oxidative Enzymatic System in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

한약복합처방의 경구투여가 Streptozotocin에 의해 유발된 당뇨병 백서의 혈당과 항산화효소계에 미치는 영향

Objectives : The Herb-combined Remedy(HCR) for diabetes mellitus is known as an anti-hyperglycaemic agent. But its exact mechanisms are unclear. The present study was carried out to investigate its anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-oxidative effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Methods : Experimental diabetes was induced by injection of STZ(80mg/kg) to ratsvia the peritoneum. The experimental animals were divided into 4 groups : normal group, control group(STZ-induced diabetic rats with no treatment), HCR group(STZ-induced diabetic rats with HCR treatment), MF group(STZ-induced diabetic rats with Metformin treatment). The effects of HCR on STZ-induced diabetes was observed by measuring fasting blood glucose, changes of body weight, food uptake, and water uptake glucose levels in the normal state decline rates in blood glucose levels DPPH free-radical scavenging activity superoxide dismutase in RBC lysate catalase activity in RBC lysate and glutathione reductase activity in RBC lysate. Results : Treatment with HCR regulated blood glucose levels. Treatment with HCR also prevented weight loss in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In addition, oral glucose tolerance decreased following treatment with HCR. Direct anti-oxidative effects on DPPH free-radical scavenging were not observed, but treatment with HCR elevated SOD levels in blood cell lysates from STZ-induced diabetic rats. In addition, the HCR-treatment group showed an elevated tendency to glutathione reductase activity. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that HCR has anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-oxidative effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats.