Hypoglycemic effects of terpenes from Fructus Corni on db/db diabetic mice

To investigate the hypoglycemic effects of terpenes from Fructus Corni(TFC)on type 2 diabetes mellitus, the db/db diabetic mice were intragastrically administered with 25, 50, 100 mg/kg of TFC for 10 weeks. The fasting blood glucose, insulin(Ins), glycosylated serum protein(GSP), total cholesterol(TC)and triglyceride(TG)levels were determined. At weeks 8 and 10, intraperitoneal injections of glucose and gavage starch tolerance tests were performed, respectively. The db/db mice showed obvious obesity. Each dose of TFC could significantly reduce the body weight of db/db mice(P< 0. 05). After 4 weeks of administration, all doses of TFC significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose of db/db mice(P< 0. 05). The serum TC, TG levels were also significantly decreased in the TFC middle- and high-dose groups(P< 0. 05). In addition, middle- and high-dose of TFC could significantly reduce the level of GSP. Middle- and high-dose of TFC also significantly improve the glucose tolerance and gavage starch tolerance in db/db mice(P< 0. 05). These results suggest that TFC could improve diabetes-related symptoms via regulating glucose and lipids metabolism.