Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of a triterpenoid-rich extract from Euryale shell on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of a triterpenoid-rich extract from the Euryale shell (ES) was analyzed in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Normal and diabetic mice treated with glimepiride were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Body weight, organ weight index and cholesterol-related lipid profile parameters were observed after 4 weeks. The hypoglycemic activity was assessed by fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) to calculate the insulin sensitivity index (ISI). In addition, the potentially regulative mechanisms on insulin resistance were discussed. The results indicated that a triterpenoid-rich extract of ES could inhibit reduction in the body weight of diabetic mice and regulate glucose metabolism. The hypolipidemic action after this extract supplementation was confirmed by significant (p<0.05) decreases in the levels of cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides and increase in HDL compared with the untreated diabetic mice, especially when using a high dose, which suggested that the ES extract could effectively reverse the abnormal enlargement of the liver and spleen (p<0.01). The present data suggest that the triterpenoid-rich extract from the ES has both hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects that can not only help cure and manage diabetes but also improve insulin resistance (IR).