Backgrounds:We reported that feeding 5% Asperagillus awamori-fermented burdock root diet was effective in preventing mouse hyperglycemia caused by alloxan.Methods: Diets containing 5% burdock roots were prepared from raw and Asperagillus awamori-fermented burdock root powders. Acatalasemic mice, having a quite low catalase activity in blood, and normal mice were fed these diets for 14 weeks, separately. Then, alloxan (200 mg/kg of body weight) or PBS was intraperitoneally administrated to each mouse. After 5 day from the administration, blood glucose assay and glucose tolerance test were carried out, and then insulin, C-peptide and lipid peroxide in plasma were examined.Results: Incidences of hyperglycemia in normal mice fed control, raw and fermented burdock root diets were 25, 20 and 11%, respectively, and these in acatalasemic mice were 73, 80 and 27%. Insulin and C-peptide in plasma of mice fed raw burdock root diet or control diet were low compared to mice fed the fermented diet. Conclusions:Intake of raw burdock root does not suppress the alloxan-induced hyperglycemia but the fermented burdock root does. It is suggested that Asperagillus awamori plays an important role for the prevention.

Problem statement: Though alloxan-induced mouse hyperglycemia was ameliorated by feeding of 5 % Asperagillus awamori (A. awamori)-fermented burdock root diet (fermented burdock diet), it is unclear whether the anti-hyperglycemia activity is due to A. awamori or antioxidant activity induced by the fermentation.Methods: A 0.05 % A. awamori diet was prepared. Acatalasemic mice, having a quite low catalase activity in blood, were divided three groups, and each group fed control, A. awamori and the fermented burdock diets for 14 weeks, separately. Then, alloxan monohydrate (200 mg/ kg of body weight) was intraperitoneally administrated to each mouse. Glucose, insulin, C-peptide contents in blood and glucose tolerance tests (GTTs) were examined.Results: Incidence of alloxan-induced hyperglycemia in acatalasemic mice maintained with the A. awamori diet or the fermented burdock diet was low (20 or 25%) compared to that (75%) maintained with the control diet. Feeding the A. awamori diet ameliorated insulin, C-peptide in blood and GTT like as mice fed the fermented burdock diet. It indicated that A. awamori in these diets plays an important role for the prevention of alloxan-induced hyperglycemia.Conclusions: It is suggested that A. awamori has the anti-hyperglycemia activity.