Effects of tissue cultured ginseng on blood glucose and lipids in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

摘要

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic efficacies of cultured ginseng (CG) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal and three diabetic groups. The diabetic groups were fed CG-free control diets or diets supplemented with 5 and 10 percent of CG for 2 weeks. CG-supplemented groups showed significantly lower blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol content compared to the diabetic control group. CG supplementation at 5 percentsignificantly increased plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol content compared to the diabetic control group. CG significantly increased plasma HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio and reduced atherogenic index, whereas, it did not affectplasma total lipid content in diabetic rats. The 5 percent CG reduced plasma AST and ALT activities in diabetic rats and inhibited the reduction of plasma creatinine level caused by STZ-treatment in rats. These data suggest that tissue-cultured ginsenghas hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and anti-atherogenic effects on STZ-diabetic rats and can be useful as a dietary supplement for the treatment of diabetes.