AIM:To explore the effects of rhizome alismatis extract(RAE) on blood glucose,blood lipid,pancreatic amylase and
insulin
in normal and diabetic mice so as to provide scientific basis for the cure of diabetes with rhizome alismatis and intervention of rehabilitation measures. METHODS:Twenty nine male mice from Kunming were randomly divided into 4 groups:saline group, gliclazide group,RAE 10 g/kg group and RAE 20 g/kg group.Alloxan(90 mg/kg) was injected into the caudal veins of the mice to establish hyperglycemia models.Blood
glucose,serum lipid and pancreatic amylase were determined using automatic biochemistry analysor, and serum insulin was determined with radioimmunoassay.The pathological changes of pancreas and islets were observed under light microscope with HE staining and paraffin section method. RESULTS:RAE,20 g/kg ig,reduced the blood glucose in normal mice significantly<
control group(7.6± 1.1) mmol/L;RAE 20 g/kg group (5.6± 1.5) mmol/L,P< 0.05,t=2.329>.RAE,10 and 20 g/kg ig, also decreased blood glucose after 7 day repeated administration in alloxan induced hyperglycemic mice
.Pathological examination: both the number and the size of islet tissues were reduced in alloxan induced diabetic mice,while there were no significant changes in those treated with RAE.RAE(20 g/kg) also increased the release of insulin in normal miceand alloxan mice. CONCLUSION:RAE possesses potent effects of lowering blood glucose and serum lipid,and protecting islets from injury.Its anti hyperglycemic mechanism may be associated with promoting release of insulin from beta cells in islets.