Myrtenal ameliorates hyperglycemia by enhancing GLUT2 through Akt in the skeletal muscle and liver of diabetic rats.

Insulin signaling pathway is an important role in glucose utilization in tissues. Our Previous study has established that myrtenal has antihyperglycemic effect against diabetic rats. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of myrtenal in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Experimental diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) (40 mg/kg bw) in Wistar albino rats. Diabetic rats were administered myrtenal (80 mg/kg bw) for a period of 28 days. Diabetic rats showed an increased the levels of plasma glucose, decreased the levels of plasma insulin, down-regulation of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2), Akt and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) in liver and insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2), Akt and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein expression in skeletal muscle. However, myrtenal treated diabetic rats revealed decreased the levels of plasma glucose, improved the plasma insulin levels, up-regulation of IRS2, Akt and GLUT2 in liver and IRS2, Akt and GLUT4 protein expression in skeletal muscle. The up-regulation of glucose transporters enhances the glucose uptake in liver and skeletal muscle. The histopathology and immunohistochemical analysis of the pancreas also corroborates with the above findings. Our findings suggest that myrtenal could be a potent phytochemical in the management of diabetes.