BackgroundBlack ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), three to nine times-steamed and dried ginseng, has biological and pharmacological activities. In this study, the anti-diabetic effects of the black ginseng ethanol extract (GBG05-FF) in typical type 2 diabetic model db/db mice were investigated.MethodsThe effect of GBG05-FF in Type 2 diabetic mice was investigated by their blood analysis, biological mechanism analysis, and histological analysis.ResultsThe mice group treated with GBG05-FF showed decreased fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance compared to that of the nontreated GBG05-FF group. In the blood analysis, GBG05-FF decreased main plasma parameter such as HbA1c, triglyceride, and total-cholesterol levels related to diabetes and improved the expression of genes and protein related to glucose homeostasis and glucose uptake in the liver and muscle. The histological analysis result shows that GBG05-FF decreased lipid accumulation in the liver and damage in the muscle. Moreover, GBG05-FF increased the phosphorylation of the AMPK in the liver and upregulated the expression of GLUT2 in liver and GLUT4 in muscle. Therefore, the mechanisms of GBG05-FF may be related to suppressing gluconeogenesis by activating AMPK in the liver and affecting glucose uptake in surrounding tissues via the upregulation of GLUT2 and GLUT4 expression.ConclusionThese findings provided a new insight into the anti-diabetic clinical applications of GBG05-FF and it might play an important role in the development of promising functional foods and drugs from the viewpoint of the chemical composition and biological activities.

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This study was investigate the effect of grape seed water extract (GSW) on lipid profiles, lipid metabolism and erythrocyte antioxidant defense system in high•fat diet•induced obese mice. Three groups of male C57BL/6 mice were fed different diets for 6 weeks: normal diet (Normal), high•fat diet (HF control; 37% calorie from fat) and high•fat diet supplemented with GSW (HF•GSW; 1% wt/wt). Supplementation of GSW did not affect the body weight, food intake, daily energy intake, white adipose tissue weights and plasma leptin level in high•fat fed mice. Plasma and hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride contents were significantly higher in the HF control group than in the Normal group; however, GSW supplement significantly lowered plasma triglyceride and hepatic cholesterol concentrations compared to the HF control group. GSW supplement significantly increased fecal excretion of triglyceride in high•fat fed mice. Hepatic carnitine palmitoyl transferase activity was significantly higher in the HF•GSW group than in the HF control group, while fatty acid β•oxidation tended to be lowered by GSW supplement. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity was also significantly higher in the HF•GSW group than in the HF control group and glutathione peroxidase activity tended to be lowered in HF•GSW group. The GSW supplement significantly lowered erythrocyte lipid peroxidation level compared to the HF control group. Accordingly, these results suggest that GSW can be considered as a lipid•lowering agent and as being effective for enhancing erythrocyte antioxidant defense system in high•fat diet•induced obese mice.