Abstract:

The present study was aimed at studying the antihyperglycemic effect and its mechanism of Momordica charantia L.bleeding sap (MBS) on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Ten mice were selected randomly as control, while another 50 mice were injected with STZ 170 mgkg bw after fasting for 17–18 h to induce diabetes. The diabetic mice were divided into 3 groups: model group, metformin group (200 mg/(kg bw·d)) and MBS group (200 mg/(kg bw·d)). After 30 days of gavage administration, the levels of fasting blood glucose and blood-fat, serum insulin and hepatic glycogen content were examined. The paraffin sections of pancreas, stained with HE, were made into pathological sections for observation. The results showed that MBS could significantly reduce the levels of fasting blood glucose and blood-fat in diabetic mice, with an increase in hepatic glycogen and insulin content. The pathological sections showed that MBS improved the function of pancreas islet tissues, accelerate the renovation of pancreatic β cells in diabetic mice. The above results indicate that MBS can accelerate the repair of pancreatic inlet β cells injured by streptozotocin, stimulate the secretion of insulin, increase the synthesis of hepatic glycogen and regulate blood lipid metabolism so as to reduce blood glucose level of diabetic mice.

Key words: Momordica charantia L, bleeding sap, antihyperglycemia effect, mechanisms