Aspalathin improves hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance in obese diabetic ob/ob mice

Abstract

Hypoglycemic effect of aspalathin is related to increased GLUT4 translocation to plasma membrane via AMPK activation. In addition, aspalathin reduces the gene expression of hepatic enzymes related to glucose production and lipogenesis. These results strongly suggest that aspalathin has anti-diabetic potential.

Amelioration of palmitate-induced insulin resistance in C2C12 muscle cells by rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)

“…In a previous study conducted in our laboratory, we confirmed the hypoglycemic activity of an aspalathin-enriched green rooibos extract in vitro and in vivo (Muller et al 2012). In a recent study, Son et al (2012) reported that aspalathin increased glucose uptake in L6 myotubes and activated AMPK phosphorylation thereby increasing GLUT4 translocation to the membrane. AMPK is a major regulator of cellular energy homeostasis and a pharmacological target for anti-diabetic agents such as metformin (Sajan et al 2010).…”

Green Rooibos Extract from <i>Aspalathus linearis</i>, and its Component, Aspalathin, Suppress Elevation of Blood Glucose Levels in Mice and Inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase Activities <i>in vitro</i>

“…reported that Asp increased glucose uptake in a skeletal musclederived cell line (Kawano et al, 2009, Son et al, 2013, we investigated whether this mechanism, through GRE-and Aspenhanced glucose utilization in tissues such as skeletal muscle, contributed to the suppressive effects on elevated blood glucose levels in the present study. Particularly, we performed IPGTT using GRE and Asp.…”

“…In particular, aspalathin (Asp), a major flavonoid in rooibos, is present at twice the level in unfermented compared to fermented tea (Bramati et al, 2002, Bramati et al, 2003. Asp is a dihydrochalcone-C-glucoside and has been reported to ameliorate hyperglycemia (Kawano et al, 2009, Muller et al, 2012, Son et al, 2013. Therefore, unfermented rooibos tea containing high levels of Asp is of great interest as a food material to promote human health.…”

“…In addition to these functional food components, green rooibos and Asp were reported to improve hyperglycemia in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes by Muller et al (2012) and in type 2 diabetes by Kawano et al (2009) and Son et al (2013). However, there has been no report concerning the suppressive effects of green rooibos and Asp on postprandial hyperglycemia in a nondiabetic model.…”

The Effect of Aspalathin on Levels of Sugar and Lipids in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic and Normal Rats

“…A study showed that hypoglycemic effect of aspalathin is related to increased GLUT4 translocation to plasma membrane via AMP-activated protein kinase activation. In addition, aspalathin reduces the gene expression of hepatic enzymes related to gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis [32]. Furthermore chalcone derivatives have insulin mimetic properties [2].…”