Effects of lupeol on insulin receptor and glucose transporter-4 in cardiac tissue of Type-2 diabetic rats.

Padmapriya, N.; Selvaraj, J.; Vishnupriya, V.; Ponnulakshmi, R.; Gayathri, B.; Shyamaladevi, B.; Madhan, K.; Manikkanan, M.

Background: Lupeol, a natural herbal drug, is abundant in edible vegetables, fruits, and also in medicinal plants. It has been shown to reduce hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in experimental model. Objectives: The present study aimed to identify the effects of lupeol on insulin-signaling molecules such as insulin receptor (IR) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein expression in cardiac tissue of Type-2 diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into four groups of six rats each. Group I: Control (vehicle treated-control rats were treated with olive oil); Group II: Diabetic (Type 2) rats; Group III: Diabetic rats treated with lupeol (25 mg/kg body weight/day) orally for 30 days; and Group IV: Diabetic rats treated with metformin (50 mg/kg body weight/day) orally for 30 days. At the end of the treatment, animals were anesthetized, and cardiac tissues were dissected out and used for the assessment of IR and GLUT4 protein expression. Results: Type-2 diabetic rats showed detrimental changes in the IR and GLUT protein expression in cardiac tissue when compared to control rats. Oral dose of lupeol (25 mg/kg b. wt) for 30 days effectively restored altered levels of IR and GLUT4 proteins in the cardiac tissue which were reduced by high-fat diet and sucrose-induced Type-2 diabetic rats. Conclusion: This study concludes that lupeol regulates glucose homeostasis in cardiac tissue through the activation of IR and GLUT4 proteins. However, studies on the effect of lupeol on insulin downstream signaling molecules in cardiac tissue need to be carried out.

INSULIN receptors; STREPTOZOTOCIN; SUCROSE; METFORMIN; GLUCOSE transporters; RATS; REDUCING diets; HIGH-fat diet

Drug Invention Today, 2019, Vol 12, Issue 9, p1897

0975-7619

Academic Journal