Extracts from Leonurus sibiricus L. increase insulin secretion and proliferation of rat INS-1E insulinoma cells

Ethnopharmacological relevanceTraditional Mongolian medicine (TMM) uses preparations from herbs as one form of medication for the treatment of a diversity of diseases including diabetes mellitus (DM). We evaluated the effect of extracts from the plant Leonurus sibiricus L. (LS), used in TMM to treat typical symptoms of type 2 DM, on insulin secretion, electrophysiological properties, intracellular calcium concentration and cell proliferation of INS-1E insulinoma cells under standard cell culture conditions (SCC; 11.1 mM glucose).Materials and methodsInsulin secretion was measured by ELISA, electrical properties were assessed by whole cell patch clamping, intracellular calcium concentration (Cai) by Fluo-4 time lapse imaging, insulin receptor expression was verified by RT-PCR and cell proliferation assessed by CellTiter-Glo® cell viability assay.ResultsInsulin released from INS-1E cells into the culture medium over 24 h was significantly increased in presence of 500 mg/L aqueous LS extract (LS OWE) as well as methanolic LS extract (LS MeOH/H2O) but not in the presence of the butanol-soluble extract (LS MeOH/BuOH). Acute application of LS OWE resulted in a depolarization of the cell membrane potential paralleled by an initial increase and subsequent decline and silencing of action potential frequency, by KATP channel inhibition, persisting depolarization and an increase in Cai. The electrophysiological effects were comparable to those of 100 μM tolbutamide, which, however failed to elevate insulin secretion under SCC. Furthermore all LS extracts stimulated INS-1E cell proliferation.ConclusionsThe finding that extracts from Leonurus sibiricus L. enhance insulin secretion and/or foster cell proliferation may provide possible explanations for the underlying therapeutic principles in the empirical use of LS-containing formulations in DM and DM-related disorders as applied in TMM.

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