Fermentation with Aquilariae Lignum enhances the anti-diabetic activity of green tea in type II diabetic db/db mouse

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 6; no. 9; pp. 3536 - 3571
• Main Authors: Kang, Su Jin, Lee, Ji Eun, Lee, Eun Kyung, Jung, Dae Hwa, Song, Chang Hyun, Park, Soo Jin, Choi, Seong Hun, Han, Chang Hyun, Ku, Sae Kwang, Lee, Young Joon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 09.09.2014; MDPI
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Animals; Antidiabetics; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; BKS.Cg-+Leprdb/+Leprdb/OlaHsd (db/db) mice; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body fat; Body Weight - drug effects; Camellia sinensis; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Electronic mail systems; Female; Fermentation; fermented green tea with Aquilariae Lignum; Glucose; Hyperglycemia; Hyperlipidemia; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Hypolipidemic Agents - pharmacology; Hypolipidemic Agents - therapeutic use; Insulin resistance; Lipids - blood; Mice, Inbred Strains; obese; Obesity; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - metabolism; Physiology; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Preventive medicine; synergistic; Tea; Thymelaeaceae
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu6093536

The major components of tea may be significantly influenced according to the type of fermentation, and consequently the effects of different teas will differ. We examined whether green tea fermented with Aquilariae Lignum (fGT) shows a stronger anti-diabetic effect than unfermented green tea (GT) on mice with type 2 diabetes. To evaluate the anti-obesity effect of fGT, we assessed body weight, fecal excretion, serum leptin levels, exocrine pancreatic zymogen granule contents, and periovarian fat weight and adiponectin contents. Blood glucose levels, pancreatic weight, and numbers of pancreatic islet insulin- and glucagon-producing cells were determined to evaluate anti-hypoglycemic effects, while total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low- and high-density lipoprotein levels were determined to evaluate anti-hyperlipidemic effects. The antioxidant effect of fGT was detected by measuring malondialdehyde and glutathione contents and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase. fGT showed anti-obesity, anti-hypoglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemia, and antioxidant effects. Additionally, fGT exerted stronger anti-diabetic effects compared with GT. Collectively, these results suggested that fGT fermented with the appropriate amounts of Aquilariae Lignum (49:1) has a stronger effect compared with GT. Thus, fGT is a promising and potent new therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes.