Effects of Multi-Extracts of Mori Folium and of Exercise on Plasma Insulin and Glucose Levels in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

This research was conducted to study the effects of the supplementation of multi-extracts of mori folium (MF) and of exercise on plasma insulin and glucose levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Eight male Sprague-Dawley rats, 4 weeks old, were assigned to each experimental group and were raised in the laboratory for 10 weeks. The animal groups consisted of a normal-control group, a STZ-control group, 3 STZ-induced diabetic groups supplemented ad libitum with various amounts of MF extracts (MF-720, MF-360, and MF-180 groups), and a STZ-induced diabetic group supplemented with MF-360 along with exercise. In the normal-control group, glucose tolerance tests resulted in the peak blood glucose level being achieved in 15 minutes and a fasting blood glucose level being achieved in 60 minutes. In the STZ-control group, the peak blood glucose level was reached after 60 minutes and, even after 90 minutes, blood glucose shown at a significantly higher level compared to the fasting levels. In the groups supplemented with MF extracts, the blood glucose level peaked after 30 minutes of glucose challenge, and returned to the fasting level after 90 minutes; the MF-360 and MF-360+exercise groups showed the best levels of glucose tolerance. Blood glucose levels in the STZ-induced diabetic groups were significantly higher compared to the normal-control group. However, after 7 weeks of supplementation with MF extracts, a significant lowering of blood glucose levels was observed in all groups supplemented with the MF extract. The best effect was observed in the group given MF extract combined with exercise. Compared to the normal-control group, blood insulin levels were significantly lower in all STZ-induced diabetic groups; however, a significantly higher level of insulin was observed in the groups given MF extracts compared to the STZ-control group. This study shows that the supplementation of MF extracts in STZ-induced diabetic rats resulted in increased blood insulin levels and lower blood glucose levels.