• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.917-922
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• 2002

We investigated the long term effects of Sopungsungi-won (SP), a Korean traditional formula used for senile constipation and diabetes mellitus, on the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. ZDF rats were fed regular laboratory chow mixed with SP or rosiglitazone (RSG) for an 8-week period. Kidney hypertrophy was developed with increasing plasma glucose level, and glomerular hypertrophy was improved by 22% and 45% in SP- and RSG-treated rats, respectively. Urinary glucose and albumin excretions were also significantly lower in SP-treated rats than in ZDF control rats. Activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ (TGF ${\beta}1$)-fibronectin pathway in kidney, responsible for glomerular dysfunction, was markedly blunted by SP treatment in a dose dependent manner. Our findings, for the first time, provide strong evidence that long-term administration of SP formula prevents the development and progression of DN in ZDF rats. Human trials are needed to confirm these experimental results.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.200-208
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• 2004

Objective: Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) is characterized by insulin resistance, which affects the glucose transportation inside the cell. The purpose of this study was to find out how Palmijihwangtang (PMT) and exercise influence the glucose transport metabolism in the organ muscles of ZDF (zucker diabetic fatty) rat with insulin resistance. Methods: Using three male normal zucker rats and twelve male obese rats, they were divided into a normal lean group (N=3), obese control group (N=3), obese exercises group (N=3), obese medication group (N=3), obese exercise and medication group (N=3). Treadmill exercise were repeated with 27m/min speed for an hour a day, five days a week, for 8 weeks. And 20β/sub ￠/ of PMT was orally administered twice a day for 8 weeks, after that a period blood sample was exsanguinated by heart perforation and was analyzed. Results: The body weight of the OM and OEM group showed a significant decrease among all the obese groups. The blood insulin level increased significantly of all groups in comparison with the N group. All of the OE, OM and the OEM groups showed a significant decrease of insulin level compared with the OC group; especially the OEM group demonstrated the most among obese groups. Regarding GLUT-4 level, OEM was the unique group showed a significant increase among all the obese groups. The VAMP-2 level in myocardium cell membrane was increased significantly at OC group in comparison with the N group, whereas the OEM group only showed significant decrease of it. In addition, the VAMP-2 level in pancreas β-cell was significantly decreased at all the obese groups in comparison with the N group. Only the OEM group showed significant increase among all the obese groups. Conclusion: Palmijihwangtang (PMT) and exercise could effectively promote the insulin metabolism in pancreas β-cells and activate the glucose transport process in myocardium cell membrane by lowering the insulin resistance of ZDF rats.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.923-931
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• 2002

Sopungsungi-won (SP) is a known for\mula for senile constipation and diabetes mellitus, based on traditional Korean medicine. The preventive effect of SP on the development of overt diabetes in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats was evaluated. When administered orally through a diet for 8 weeks, diabetic conditions such as hyperglycemia, polydipsia and hypertriglyceridemia were all ameliorated in SP-treated rats. In parallel with the onset and progression of hyperglycemia in the ZDF control rats; there was a marked decline in plasma insulin concentrations from 26.1 $\mu$U/ml, at age 7 weeks, to 14.8 $\mu$U/ml at age 15 weeks. In the SP-treated rats, however, the plasma insulin concentrations did not decline, and SP at a dose of 5 g/kg significantly increased the insulin levels to 31.9 $\mu$U/ml. Early normalization of plasma insulin and a retained ability to subsequently increase plasma insulin were indicative of a pancreatic $\beta$ cell protective action by the SP for\mula. In addition, expressions of an insulin-responsive gene and corresponding protein, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), in skeletal \muscle, were also determined in SP- and rosiglitazone-treated ZDF rats. mRNA and protein levels of GLUT4 in SP-treated rats were upregulated in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, when ZDF rats were treated with 2 g/kg of the SP for\mula, the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase was decreased by 49%, whereas the activity of glucokinase was increased by 196%, compared to the ZDF control rats. Taken together, these data provide evidence that the SP for\mula markedly lowered the plasma glucose levels, probably through an effect not only on improvement of insulin action, but through a combined sti\mulation of glycolysis and an inhibition of gluconeogenesis in the liver, and also suggest the validity of SP's clinical use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus following further toxicological investigation.