Open Access

Icariin treatment reduces blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic rats and protects pancreatic function

  • Authors:
    • Xin Li
    • Yun‑Xiao Wang
    • Ping Shi
    • Yan‑Ping Liu
    • Ting Li
    • Shu‑Qin Liu
    • Chen‑Jing Wang
    • Le‑Xin Wang
    • Yu Cao
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 4, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8490
  • Pages: 2690-2696
  • Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Icariin, a flavonoid isolated from traditional oriental herbal medicines, has been demonstrated to exhibit several health benefits in animal models and in humans. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Icariin on hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rats. A model of diabetes was established in 50 Sprague Dawley rats using a high‑sugar and high‑fat diet and peritoneal injection of streptozotocin. Diabetic rats were divided into five groups: Diabetic control; metformin; and rats treated with three different doses of Icariin, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg. Body weight and blood glucose levels were measured, and serum adiponectin levels, expression of phospho‑AMP mediated protein kinase (p‑AMPK) and glucose transporter isoform 4 (GLUT‑4) were measured using ELISA, Realtime PCR and western blotting, respectively. Diabetic rats without drug treatment exhibited reduced body weight, increased blood glucose levels and decreased the number of islets. In T2DM rats treated with 10 or 20 mg/kg Icariin, the blood glucose levels were reduced, whereas serum adiponectin levels were not affected. Additionally, the mRNA and protein expression levels of p‑AMPK and GLUT‑4 protein were increased in the T2DM rats treated with Icariin. In conclusion, in the diabetes rat model, Icariin alleviated the severity of diabetes, and the effects may be associated with reduction of hyperglycemia by activating an AMPK/GLUT‑4 pathway.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

April-2020
Volume 19 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Li X, Wang YX, Shi P, Liu YP, Li T, Liu SQ, Wang CJ, Wang LX and Cao Y: Icariin treatment reduces blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic rats and protects pancreatic function. Exp Ther Med 19: 2690-2696, 2020
APA
Li, X., Wang, Y., Shi, P., Liu, Y., Li, T., Liu, S. ... Cao, Y. (2020). Icariin treatment reduces blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic rats and protects pancreatic function. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 19, 2690-2696. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8490
MLA
Li, X., Wang, Y., Shi, P., Liu, Y., Li, T., Liu, S., Wang, C., Wang, L., Cao, Y."Icariin treatment reduces blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic rats and protects pancreatic function". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 19.4 (2020): 2690-2696.
Chicago
Li, X., Wang, Y., Shi, P., Liu, Y., Li, T., Liu, S., Wang, C., Wang, L., Cao, Y."Icariin treatment reduces blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic rats and protects pancreatic function". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 19, no. 4 (2020): 2690-2696. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8490