Evaluation of Chios Mastic Gum on Lipid and Glucose Metabolism in Diabetic Mice

Abstract

Chios mastic gum (MG), a resin produced from Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia, is reported to possess beneficial cardiovascular and hepatoprotective properties. This study investigated the effect of crude Chios MG on metabolic parameters in diabetic mice. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic 12-week-old male C57bl/6 mice were assigned to three groups: NC (n=9) control; LdM (n=9) animals receiving low dose mastic for 8 weeks (20 mg/kg body weight [BW]); and HdM (n=9) animals receiving high dose mastic (500 mg/kg BW) for the same period. Serum lipid and glucose levels were determined at baseline, at 4 and 8 weeks. Serum total protein, adiponectin, and resistin levels were also measured at the end of the experiment. Histopathological examination for liver, kidney, aorta, and heart lesions was performed. After 4 weeks, MG administration resulted in decreased serum glucose and triglyceride levels in both LdM and HdM, whereas BW levels were reduced in LdM group compared with controls. At the end of the experiment, LdM presented significantly lower serum glucose, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and improved high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with control group. HdM group had ameliorated serum triglyceride levels. Hepatic steatosis observed in control group was partially reversed in LdM and HdM groups. MG administered in low dosages improves glucose and lipid disturbances in diabetic mice while alleviating hepatic damage.

Pistacia lentiscus Oleoresin: Virtual Screening and Identification of Masticadienonic and Isomasticadienonic Acids as Inhibitors of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 1

“…Therefore, masticadienonic and isomasticadienonic acids are suggested to act as competitive 11β-HSD1 inhibitors, like carbenoxolone. The findings of this study show that the oleoresin of P. lentiscus (mastic gum), and especially masticadienonic and isomasticadienonic acids, target 11β-HSD1, which may contribute to a lowered blood glucose and improved serum fatty acids concentrations that have been observed in earlier reports on the treatment of diabetic mice with mastic gum [9]. Moreover, moronic acid, one of the triterpenes present in mastic gum [4], has been shown to exert antihyperglycemic properties in rats and to be a weak 11β-HSD1 inhibitor in vitro (22% enzyme inhibition at the concentration of 10 µM) [36].…”

“…An in vivo study in rats indicated that daily consumption of mastic gum resulted in a 40% decrease of blood glucose levels in high-fat dietfed rats that also received streptozotoxin injection according to a protocol that induced diabetes II [8]. In addition, the administration of mastic gum decreased blood glucose levels and improved serum fatty acid levels in diabetic mice [9]. Nevertheless, it is likely that these effects are not only mediated through PPARγ.…”

In vitro inhibitory effects of Sardinian Pistacia lentiscus L. and Pistacia terebinthus L. on metabolic enzymes: Pancreatic lipase, α‐amylase, and α‐glucosidase

“…ethnomedicine and ethnobiology propensities were comprehensively reviewed , mainly highlighting the pharmacological significance and relevance of this species. Recently, P. lentiscus chios mastic gum could markedly improve glucose and lipid metabolism‐associated disturbances in STZ‐diabetic mice while alleviating hepatic damage . This can be linked to the pronounced antioxidative properties of P. lentiscus .…”

Effects of Chios mastic gum and exercise on physical characteristics, blood lipid markers, insulin resistance, and hepatic function in healthy Japanese men

“…In the aforementioned study of 179 healthy Greek male subjects, Kartalis et al [19] showed that glucose levels were reduced in the group that received the relatively low daily dose of 1 g CMG. Conversely, in diabetic mice, both low and high doses of mastic powder (fed for 8 weeks) substantially reduced blood glucose levels [18].…”

“…Vallianou et al [15] reported that the administration of CMG essential oil to hyperlipidemic rats reduced TG, TC, and LDL-C concentrations by 65.4, 59.9, and 72.5%, respectively, and attributed this result to the camphene content of CMG. Georgiadis et al [18] fed diabetic mice with low or high doses of mastic powder for 8 weeks, and showed that TG was significantly reduced in both groups, and TC and LDL-C were significantly reduced in the low-dose group. In human studies, the effects of CMG on TG and other lipids are less consistent.…”