Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Orostachys japonicus with Medicinal Herbs in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects from Wa-song (Orostachys japonicus) extracts with mixtures of medicinal herbs (such as Baekbokyung, Changchul and Sa-in) were evaluated in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to five groups; normal, diabetic control (D-control), a group fed a medicinal herbs mixture (D-MH), and a group fed composites of O. japonicus with mixtures of medicinal herbs (1:1, D-MHOA and 3:1, D-MHOB). All were fed on their diet for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the body weight of all experimental groups increased compared to the diabetic control group, with the D-MHOB group having a significantly higher increase. Fasting glucose levels in all experimental groups (compared to the D-control group) significantly decreased after 2 weeks, but between 2∼3 weeks, the levels in the D-MH group were similar to the D-MHOA group. After 4 weeks, the fasting glucose level of the D-MHOB group was the lowest compared to the other groups. In a test of oral glucose tolerance, blood glucose levels were highest 60 minutes after feeding glucose; however this level improved significantly in the groups fed an experimental diet compared to the D-control group. Glycosylated hemoglobin levels were 1.9 times higher in the D-control group than the normal (3.9%), but levels in the experimental groups were significantly decreased in D-MHOA and D-MHOB groups compared to the D-MH group. In the high amounts of O. japonicus to medicinal herbs mixture, total lipids and cholesterol significantly decreased in the serum, while HDL-C levels increased. GPT activity was significantly lower in the D-MHOB group compared to the other groups. Lipid peroxide levels decreased in the D-MHOA and D-MHOB groups compared to the D-MH group. Antioxidant activity was higher depending on the dose of O. japonicus. Overall, O. japonicus exhibited effective hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic actions enhanced by a combination of medicinal herbs.

Aqueous extract of Orostachys japonicus A. Berger exerts immunostimulatory activity in RAW 264.7 macrophages

“…Orostachys japonicus A. Berger (Crassulaceae) (OJ), also known as Wa-song in Korea, is used as a folk medication; its main habitat is on the surface of mountain rocks in Korea and Japan. OJ is a medicinal plant with immunoregulatory, anti-febrile, antidote, and anticancer activities (Jin Kwon and Kwangsoo Han, 2004;Kim et al, 2011;Lee et al, 2011;Ryu et al, 2014;Ryu et al, 2012;Shin et al, 2013;Yoon et al, 2000). It is reported that OJ increased CD4-and CD8-T cells and the production of interferon γ in BALB/c mice (Jin Kwon and Kwangsoo Han, 2004).…”