Hypoglycemic effect of Hypericum attenuatum Choisy extracts on type 2 diabetes by regulating glucolipid metabolism and modulating gut microbiota

Abstract

Hypericum attenuatum Choisy, as an edible medicinal plant, possesses multiple therapeutic effects. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that has become a major threat to public health. The objective of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of Hypericum attenuatum Choisy extracts (HaC) on T2DM mice and modulatory effect of HaC on composition of intestinal microflora. T2DM mice were treated with HaC for 5 weeks. HaC could modulate fasting blood glucose, improve hepatic insulin sensitivity and promote hepatic glycogen storage by activating IRS1/PI3K/AKT pathway. Moreover, HaC regulated dysfunctional lipid metabolism and reduced inflammation in T2DM mice. Additionally, HaC treatment could modulate the compositions of gut microbiota in small intestine and colon with the altered abundances of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Meanwhile, HaC treatment could augment short chain fatty acids contents. These results demonstrate that H. attenuatum Choisy may be a potential therapy for the treatment of T2DM.

Keywords

• H. attenuatum Choisy
• Gut microflora
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Short chain fatty acids
• Inflammation