Affiliations: Department of Hygienic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy,
Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Se Young Choung, Ph.D, Department of
Hygienic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701,
Republic of Korea. Tel.: +82 2 961 0372; Fax: +82 2 961 0372; E-mail:
sychoung@khu.ac.kr
Abstract: Both Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts are used as
anti-diabetic folk medicines. Recently, increased oxidative stress was shown to
play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus
and its complications. This study was designed to examine the effects of
Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts on blood glucose, lipid
peroxidation, the level of reduced glutathione and its related enzymes
(glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase), and the activity of the
antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase)
in the liver of db/db mice. Diabetic C57BL/Ks db/db mice were used as experimental models. Mice
were divided into control (n=10), Cinnamomi cassiae (200 mg/kg/day, n=10), and
Rhodiola rosea (200 mg/kg/day, n=10) treated groups for 12 weeks of treatment.
These type II diabetic mice were used to investigate the effects of Cinnamomi
cassiae and Rhodiola rosea on blood glucose, reduced glutathione, glutathione
reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, lipid
peroxidation, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts significantly
decreased on blood glucose, increased levels of reduced glutathione and the
activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione
peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase in the liver. Extract treatment
also significantly decreased lipid peroxidation. Cinnamomi cassiae and Rhodiola rosea extracts may be effective for
correcting hyperglycemia and preventing diabetic complications.
