Molecular mechanisms of antidiabetic effect of betulinic acid in lotus rhizome

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To explain the bio-physiological mechanisms of the antidiabetic effect of betulinic acid in Lotus rhizome. BACKGROUND: Even though Sri Lankan native medicine uses Lotus rhizome as a medicinal food for diabetes mellitus, its antidiabetic property has not been scientifi cally explained yet. It is found to compose several medicinally active components with antidiabetic properties, including Betulinic acid. METHODS: A narrator review was conducted with a literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the search terms "Nelumbo nucifera rhizome", "Lotus rhizome", "phytochemicals", "antidiabetic effect", "hypoglycaemic effect" "Betulinic acid", and "molecular mechanism". RESULTS: The triterpenoid, Betulinic acid exerts its antidiabetic effect via seven bio-physiological mechanisms including, inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase, upregulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 α, enhancing AS160 protein phosphorylation, stimulating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activation, stimulating Glucose transporter type 4 synthesis and translocation, inhibiting Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1 B activity preventing dephosphorylation of insulin receptor and stimulating Takeda-G-protein-receptor-5 resulting in an increased release of insulin from insulin-containing granules CONCLUSION: The available scientifi c knowledge explains that betulinic acid in Lotus rhizome can improve glucose homeostasis contributing to the antidiabetic effect of this root (Tab. 1, Fig. 6, Ref.