Effects of sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides) juice and L-quebrachitol on type 2 diabetes mellitus in db/db mice

• Sea buckthorn juice reduced random blood glucose in diabetic db/db mice.
• Sea buckthorn juice improved oral glucose tolerance in diabetic db/db mice.
• Sea buckthorn juice maintained integrity of the pancreatic islet db/db mice.
• L-quebrachitol increased fasting insulin level in plasma in db/db mice.

To study the effects of sea buckthorn juice and L-quebrachitol on type 2 diabetes, db/db mice were given 10-week gavage administration of pure sea buckthorn juice or sea buckthorn juice enriched with L-quebrachitol. Treatment with sea buckthorn juice reduced the feed intake, body weight gain, random blood glucose level, and the expression of insulin receptor β in the liver. Sea buckthorn juice significantly improved glucose tolerance and the integrity of pancreatic tissue. Administration of sea buckthorn juice enriched in L-quebrachitol increased fasting insulin level in plasma and showed similar effects on random blood glucose level, glucose tolerance and the pancreatic tissue as observed for pure sea buckthorn juice. The results suggest hypoglycaemic effects of sea buckthorn juice in type 2 diabetic db/db mice, likely associated with improvement of pancreas and reversal of insulin resistance. L-quebrachitol present in sea buckthorn might have contributed to the effects observed.