Antidiabetic Effects of Panax ginseng Berry Extract and the Identification of an Effective Component

Abstract

We evaluated antihyperglycemic and anti-obese effects of Panax ginseng berry extract and its major constituent, ginsenoside Re, in obese diabetic C57BL/6J ob/ ob mice and their lean littermates. Animals received daily intraperitoneal injections of Panax ginseng berry extract for 12 days. On day 12, 150 mg/kg extract-treated ob/ob mice became normoglycemic (137 +/- 6.7 mg/dl) and had significantly improved glucose tolerance. The overall glucose excursion during the 2-h intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test decreased by 46% (P < 0.01) compared with vehicle-treated ob/ob mice. The improvement in blood glucose levels in the extract-treated ob/ ob mice was associated with a significant reduction in serum insulin levels in fed and fasting mice. A hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp study revealed a more than twofold increase in the rate of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in treated ob/ ob mice (112 +/- 19.1 vs. 52 +/- 11.8 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1) for the vehicle group, P < 0.01). In addition, the extract-treated ob/ob mice lost a significant amount of weight (from 51.7 +/- 1.9 g on day 0 to 45.7 +/- 1.2 on day 12, P < 0.01 vs. vehicle-treated ob/ob mice), associated with a significant reduction in food intake (P < 0.05) and a very significant increase in energy expenditure (P < 0.01) and body temperature (P < 0.01). Treatment with the extract also significantly reduced plasma cholesterol levels in ob/ob mice. Additional studies demonstrated that ginsenoside Re plays a significant role in antihyperglycemic action. This antidiabetic effect of ginsenoside Re was not associated with body weight changes, suggesting that other constituents in the extract have distinct pharmacological mechanisms on energy metabolism.

Effects of Korean white ginseng extracts on obesity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

“…These results suggest that KGE exerts the anti-obesity effect as well as a hypolipidemic effect in HFD-induced obese mice. And they are in accordance with previous reports that the supplementation of ginseng extracts and ginsenosides has anti-obesity and hypolipidemia in HFDinduced obese animals and obese type 2 diabetic animals, in spite of not showing the anti-diabetic effect in other reports (Yamamoto et al 1983;Chung et al 2001;Attele et al 2002;Yoon et al 2003;Yun et al 2004;Kim et al 2005;Karu et al 2007). We expect that difference would be caused by the differences in dietary fat content, feeding period, kind of experimental and components of ginseng extracts.…”

“…It has also been reported that ginseng has an effect on obesity and lipid metabolism. Ginseng extract and isolated ginsenosides displayed antihyperglycemic and anti-obesity activities following administration to diabetic rodents such as ob/ob and KKA y mice (Chung et al 2001;Attele et al 2002). Wild ginseng extract and crude saponins were also shown to reduce plasma lipid levels and obesity when administered to rodents fed a high-fat diet (Yoon et al 2003;Kim et al 2005;Karu et al 2007).…”

Effects of Korean ginseng berry extract (GB0710) on penile erection: evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies

“…Although KRG extract prepared from the root of the plant has been most commonly used for herbal medicine, GB can be used similarly to treat diseases and sexual dysfunction, as well as for aphrodisiac purposes. 11,19 Using GB also has economic advantages over KRG, because KRG is made from 6-yearold ginseng plants, whereas GB can be harvested yearly. Moreover, our analysis revealed markedly higher ginsenoside concentration in GB0710 than in KRG as shown in Figure 1.…”

Botanical, Pharmacological, Phytochemical, and Toxicological Aspects of the Antidiabetic PlantBidens pilosaL.

“…The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated that diabetes afflicted 285 million people, 6.4% of the world population, who were afflicted with diabetes in 2010 and will afflict 439 million people, 7.7% of the world population by 2030 [2]. Over 90% of diabetic patients are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) [3, 4] and the rest are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and others.…”