Ginsenoside Re of Panax ginseng possesses significant antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic efficacies in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia and complications affecting the eye, kidney, nerve and blood vessel. We have previously demonstrated the occurrence of oxidative stress of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, preceded by a depletion in the tissue level of glutathione. In this study, when diabetic rats were treated with ginsenoside Re of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, there was a significant reduction in blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. On the other hand, oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. It was found that treatment by ginsenoside Re restored the levels of both glutathione and malondialdehyde in the eye and kidney to those found in the control rats. This is the first report demonstrating ginsenoside Re has significant antioxidant efficacy in diabetes, and prevents the onset of oxidative stress in some vascular tissues. Our results demonstrated that ginsenoside Re could lower blood glucose and lipid levels, and exerts protective actions against the occurrence of oxidative stress in the eye and kidney of diabetic rats. Our data also provide evidence that ginsenoside Re could be used as an effective antidiabetic agent particularly in the prevention of diabetic microvasculopathy.