Monacolin K and monascin attenuated pancreas impairment and hyperglycemia induced by advanced glycation endproducts in BALB/c mice
Journal
Food and Function
Journal Volume
4
Journal Issue
12
Pages
1742-1750
Date Issued
2013
Author(s)
Abstract
Several lines of evidence have implicated high levels of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in diabetes. Pancreas impairment caused by AGEs has been found in recent studies. Monascin (MS) and monacolin K (MK) are active compounds identified from Monascus-fermented products, which have been reported to inhibit inflammation and improve insulin resistance. In order to confirm the protective effects of MS and MK on pancreatic function, BALB/c mice were treated with AGEs via intraperitoneal injection for 22 weeks to induce hyperglycemia, and the pancreas-protecting mechanism of MS and MK from AGE-induced damage was investigated. We found that the expression of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) was recovered by MS or MK administration to AGE-treated mice. In addition, MS strongly improved performance in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the insulin tolerance test (ITT), suggesting that MS sensitized to insulin in AGE-treated mice. Both MS and MK elevated pancreatic insulin expression when compared to the AGE-treated group, suggesting that MS and MK attenuated AGE-induced pancreatic dysfunction. Histopathology studies showed that intraperitoneal injection of AGEs did not result in pancreas damage. These findings confirm that the potential mechanism of AGEs on pancreatic dysfunction involves the induction of inflammation and the suppression of PDX-1 and GLUT2 expression. Taken together, MS and MK may be developed as an anti-diabetic agent in the future. ? 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Advanced glycation end products; Glucose transporters; Insulin expressions; Intraperitoneal injections; Monascus-fermented products; Oral glucose tolerance tests; Pancreatic functions; Potential mechanism; Insulin; Pathology; Mammals; advanced glycation end product; antidiabetic agent; fused heterocyclic rings; insulin; mevinolin; monascin; animal; article; Bagg albino mouse; chemically induced disorder; chemistry; diabetes mellitus; drug effect; female; fermentation; glucose tolerance test; human; hyperglycemia; insulin resistance; male; metabolism; microbiology; Monascus; mouse; pancreas; rice; Animals; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Fermentation; Glucose Tolerance Test; Glycosylation End Products, Advanced; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Lovastatin; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Monascus; Oryza sativa; Pancreas
Type
journal article