The influence of a natural triterpene preparation on the gastrointestinal tract of gilts with streptozocin-induced diabetes and on cell metabolic activity

The prevention of type 2 diabetes involves a healthy diet rich in triterpenes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a natural triterpene preparation (ursolic acid and oleanolic acid) obtained from apple peels (AP) on the morphology of selected gastrointestinal tract tissues in gilts with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, and on glucose and lipid metabolism in various cells analyzed in vitro. Subclinical enteropathy with a constant degree of severity was observed in the jejunum in vivo. The AP preparation exerted protective effects in the liver and pancreas of gilts with diabetes. The data obtained in vitro indicate that the AP preparation had anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects. The preparation also stimulated glucose uptake by myoblasts, hepatocytes and adipocytes. The results of in vivo and in vitro experiments indicate that the analyzed preparation exerted hypoglycemic effects on the liver and pancreas, and induced subclinical enteropathy in the jejunum.