Journal of Functional Foods (Dec 2016)

A-type procyanidins from litchi pericarp ameliorate hyperglycaemia by regulating hepatic and muscle glucose metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice fed with high fat diet

  • Xiaopeng Li,
  • Yong Sui,
  • Shuyi Li,
  • Bijun Xie,
  • Zhida Sun

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27
pp. 711 – 722

Abstract

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A-type procyanidins is rich in litchi pericarp. This study evaluated the prevention and anti-diabetic effect of A-type oligomeric procyanidins (A-OPC). The results showed A-OPC was more effective than B-type oligomeric procyanidins (B-OPC) of lotus seedpod. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was activated in liver and skeletal muscle. The protein levels of glucokinase (GK), glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2, in liver), glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4, in skeletal muscle) and insulin receptor α (INSR) improved significantly with treatment of A-OPC or B-OPC (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the glycolytic key gene expressions of phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK) in liver and skeletal muscle and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) in skeletal muscle were notably up-regulated, while gene expressions, rate-limiting enzymes of gluconeogenesis, of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) were down-regulated. Both A-OPC and B-OPC improved glucose homeostasis by inhibiting the glucose production in liver, regulating the expression of proteins involved in glucose transport system and increasing glycolysis.

Keywords