Abstract
Objective: To investigate the preventive effect of Radix Astragali on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a) induced insulin resistance.Methods: Rats were treated orally with Radix Astragali before TNF-α intravenous injection. The changes of K value in glucose-insulin tolerance test, the concentrations of glucagon (GC), ACTH and lipids in serum and the contents of glycogen, triglyceride (TG) in liver and red quadriceps were tested 4 hours after the injection and compared with the control.Results: Exogenous TNF-α can induce hyperinsulinemia in normal rats, and the K value decreased, the concentration of serum ACTH, GC and lipids all increased, the glycogen contents in liver and red quadriceps muscle decreased, and the liver TG depots increased. Radix Astragali can improve all the parameters significantly except the serum lipids level and liver triglyceride depots.Conclusions: Radix Astragali has preventive effect on insulin resistance induced by TNF-α and is useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The mechanism may be due to the decrease of insulin-antagonistic hormones and the increase of tissue glycogen contents.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hotamisligil GS and Spiegelman BM. Tumor necrosis factorex: A key component of the obesity-diabetes link. Diabetes 1994; 43:1271–1278.
Leny J, Gavin III JR, Fausto A, et al. Impaired insulin action in rats with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Diabetes 1984; 33:901–906.
Van Der Vies J. Two methods for the determination of glycogen in liver. Biochem J 1954; 57:410–416.
Storlien LH, Oakes ND, Pan DA, et al. Syndromes of insulin resistance in the rats: inducement by diet and amelioration with Benfluorex. Diabetes 1993; 42:457–462.
Lang CH, Dobrescu C, Bagby GJ. Tumor necrosis factor impairs insulin action on peripheral glucose disposal and hepatic glucose output. Endocrinology 1992; 130:43–52.
Van Der Poll T, Romijin JA, Endert E, et al. Tumor necrosis factor mimics the metabolic response to acute infection in healthy humans. Am J Physiol 1991; 261:E457-E465.
Peraldi P, Xu M, Spiegelman BM. Thiazolidinediones block tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced inhibition of insulin signaling. J Clin Invest 1997; 100:1863–1869.
Morimoto Y, Nishikawa K and Ohashi M. KB-R7785, a novel matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, exerts antidiabetic effect by inhibitory tumor necrosis factor-α production. Lif Sci 1997; 61:795–803.
Chin JE, Dicken M, Tavare JM, et al. Overexpression of protein kinase C isoenzymes α, βI, γ and ε in cells overexpressing the insulin receptor. J Biol Chem 1993; 268:6338–6347.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jin, L., Dajin, Z. & Jiaqing, Z. Prevention of tumor necrosis factor-a induced insulin resistance by Radix Astragali. CJIM 5, 59–62 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02934193
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02934193