Cucurbitacin Attenuates Hyperglycemia by Increasing Glut2 Through Pi3k-Pakt in the Hepatocytes of Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The current study was undertaken to investigate the role of cucurbitacin in the regulation of hepatic expression of insulin signaling proteins and the underlying mechanism. Diabetes was induced with a single dose of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg bw/i.p). Diabetic rats were treated with cucurbitacin (5 mg/kg bw) for 45 days. Diabetic rats showed significant decrease in protein expression of PI3K, p-Akt and GLUT2, and the immunohistochemistry of IR, p-Akt and GLUT2 in liver showed abnormal changes. However, the administration of cucurbitacin in diabetic rats showed to enhance IR, p-Akt and GLUT2 expressions when compared with diabetic rats. Immunostaining showed that administration of cucurbitacin in diabetic rats demonstrated a positive GLUT2 staining in pancreas and synthesis of IR, p-Akt and GLUT2 in the hepatocytes. Based on the present findings, the antidiabetic potential of cucurbitacin could improve insulin action and glucose metabolism through activation of GLUT2 protein in liver and pancreas.