Effect of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. leaves extract on blood glucose and plasma lipid levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Aim of the studyTo investigate the hypoglycemic effects of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. leaves (VBTL) extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.Materials and methodsAfter administration of VBTL extract for 4 weeks, the body weight, organ weight, blood glucose (BG), insulin and plasma lipid levels of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were measured.ResultsBody weights of diabetic mice treated with VBTL extract were partly recovered. The BG levels of AEG (diabetic mice treated with VBTL aqueous extract) were reduced to 91.52 and 85.82% at week 2 and week 4, respectively (P < 0.05), while those of EEG (diabetic mice treated with VBTL ethanolic extract) were reduced slightly (P > 0.05). The insulin levels of AEG and EEG were obviously higher (P < 0.05) than those of MC (diabetic mice in model control group). Comparing with MC, AEG and EEG had significantly lower (P < 0.05) TC or TG levels and similar HDL-cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol levels. In comparison with non-diabetic control mice, AEG had similar plasma lipid levels except higher LDL-cholesterol level, while EEG had higher TC, TG and LDL-cholesterol levels and lower HDL-cholesterol levels.ConclusionsBoth aqueous and ethanolic extract of VBTL possess a potential hypoglycemic effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Graphical abstractThe BG level of mice in the NC maintained constant during the experimental period and was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of the STZ-induced mice in the other four groups. An increasing tendency of BG level was found in the MC during the experimental period. The BG level of the AEG was similar or slightly lower than that of EEG, while both of them were obviously higher (P < 0.05) than that of PC. Those of AEG were reduced to 91.52 and 85.82% at week 2 and week 4, respectively, while those of EEG were reduced to 97.74 and 93.65%, respectively.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide