• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.481-494
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• 2009

Background : Radix Sophora Flavescentis (SF) is used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in Traditional Korean Medicine. However, little is known about the effects of Radix Sophora Flavescentis extract (SFE) on the hypoglycemic mechanism. Objective : We performed a series of experiments to verify the effects of SFE on the proliferation of RIN-m5F, the secretion and synthetic processes of insulin with glucose stimulation and inhibition of $\alpha$-glucosidase. Methods : Various amounts of SFE were added to the RIN-m5F cell culture to identify the effects on the cell proliferation, total amounts of insulin secretion, and related gene expression at the molecular level. Also to identify the inhibitory effect on the $\alpha$-glucosidase activities, ${\rho}NPG$ assay was done with various SFE concentrations followed by comparison with control. Results : SFE did not show considerable effects on RIN-m5F cells proliferation, insulin secretion or insulin mRNA expression, whichever phenomena did not depend on the glucose concentration. However, SFE significantly inhibited $\alpha$-glucosidase activity in a dose dependent manner compared to control. Conclusions : This study showed that SFE has potent $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Thus, SF may by used for the improvement of overall glycemic control. Further mechanism studies on the lipid toxicity and oxidation stress of SF seem to be necessary.