Ginseng
Berry Extract Treats Obesity
Obese
diabetic mice treated with an extract of Panax ginseng berries shed
weight and demonstrate significant improvement in glucose homeostasis,
investigators from the University of Chicago report in the June issue
of the journal Diabetes.
Their
studies also demonstrate an antidiabetic action of ginsenoside Re, the
major constituent of the ginseng berry extract.
Dr.
Anoja S. Attele and colleagues treated obese diabetic mice and their
lean normoglycemic littermates with daily intraperitoneal injections
of Panax ginseng berry extract 150 mg/kg of body weight for 12 days.
In
obese mice, fasting blood glucose levels began to decline on day 5 and
reached normal on day 12. "More importantly," the authors
say, "intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test results normalized
after treatment."
Extract-treated
obese mice also showed a significant reduction in body weight and
plasma cholesterol levels, along with a "very significant"
increase in energy expenditure and body temperature. Extract-treated
mice ate 15% less than untreated mice, and were 35% more active.
Administration
of ginsenoside Re alone also produced dose-dependent antidiabetic
effects in obese mice but had no effect on body weight.
Control
mice did not respond to the glucose-lowering effects of Panax ginseng
berry extract or ginsenoside Re.
"This
is the first report demonstrating that ginseng berry and ginsenoside
Re can be used to treat diabetes," the authors say. "In
addition, the identification of a significant antihyperglycemic
activity of ginsenoside Re may provide an opportunity to develop a
novel class of antidiabetic agent," they add. Diabetes
2002;51:1851-1858.
Did
You Know?
A
2000 survey published by the National Quality Control Association
states that 75 percent of people
with diabetes are not getting their A1cs tested.
