The aim of this present study was to investigate the effect of bitter gourd extract on insulin sensitivity and proximal insulin signalling pathways in high-fat-fed rats. High-fat feeding of male Wistar rats for 10 weeks decreased the glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity compared to chow-fed control rats. Bitter gourd extract supplementation for 2 weeks (9th and 10th) of high-fat feeding improved the glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. In addition bitter gourd extract reduced the fasting insulin (43 (SE 4·4) v. 23 (SE 5·2) mU/ml, P, 0·05), TAG (134 (SE 12) v. 96 (SE 5·5) mg/dl, P, 0·05), cholesterol (97 (SE 6·3) v. 72 (SE 5·2) mg/dl, P,0·05) and epidydimal fat (4·8 (SE 0·29) v. 3·6 (SE 0·24) g, P, 0·05), which were increased by high-fat diet (HFD). High-fat feeding and bitter gourd supplementation did not have any effect on skeletal muscle insulin receptor, insulin receptor subtrate-1 (IRS-1) and insulin-stimulated insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation compared to chow-fed control rats. However high-fat feeding for 10 weeks reduced the insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation compared to control rats. Bitter gourd supplementation together with HFD for 2 weeks improved the insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation compared to rats fed with HFD alone. Our results show that bitter gourd extract improves insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance and insulin signalling in HFD-induced insulin resistance. Identification of potential mechanism(s) by which bitter gourd improves insulin sensitivity and insulin signalling in high-fat-fed rats may open new therapeutic targets for the treatment of obesity/dyslipidemia-induced insulin resistance.

The oxidative stress-sensitive c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is known to be activated in diabetic condition and is involved in the progression of insulin resistance. However, the effect of antioxidants on JNK pathway and insulin resistance has not been investigated. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of antioxidants on redox balance, insulin sensitivity, and JNK pathway in high-fat-fed rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: the control group -received a rodent chow; controlCantioxidant group -fed with rodent chow supplemented with 0 . 2% (w/w) vitamin E, 0 . 3% (w/w) vitamin C, and 0 . 5% (w/w) a-lipoic acid; high-fat groupreceived high-fat diet; and high fatCantioxidant group -fed with high-fat diet supplemented with above antioxidants. Fat feeding to rats for 9 weeks significantly increased IRS-1 serine phoshorylation, reduced insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and insulin sensitivity. High-fat diet also impaired redox balance and activated the redox-sensitive serine kinase -JNK pathway. Antioxidant supplementation along with high-fat diet preserved the free radical defense system, inhibited the activation of JNK pathway, and improved insulin signaling and insulin sensitivity. The present study shows for the first time that antioxidants inhibit JNK pathway and IRS-1 serine phosphorylation while improving insulin sensitivity in fat-fed rats. These findings implicate the beneficial effect of antioxidants in obesity-/dyslipidemia-induced insulin resistance in humans.

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