A traditional Chinese medicine JiuHuangLian (Rhizoma coptidis steamed with rice wine) reduces oxidative stress injury in type 2 diabetic rats

Oxidative stress and oxidative stress mediated β-cell injury are the initial factors of diabetes pathogenesis. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that JiuHuangLian (JHL, Rhizoma Coptidis steamed with rice wine) is an effective agent on diabetes treatment. In present study, we evaluated the antioxidant and lightening β-cell injury of JHL in streptozotocin and a high-glucose/high-fat diet-induced diabetic rats. After 30 days treatment with JHL, glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance of diabetic rats were improved significantly. JHL also could decrease fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels, increase insulin level and insulin sensitivity index. Moreover, lipid metabolism disorder also adjusted, which manifested as decreased total cholesterol, total glyceride and free fatty acid levels. Meanwhile, a significant increase in superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content were observed in JHL treated rats, oxidative stress markers such as reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide also were decreased by JHL treatment. Furthermore, low expression of caspase-3 were shown in pancreatic immunohistochemistry of JHL treated rats, which exhibited anti-apoptosis effect of β-cell. The histological evidence suggests that JHL effectively rescues the islet atrophied from oxidative stress-mediated β-cell damage. These findings demonstrate the β-cell functional protective nature of JHL by attenuating oxidative stress and inhibiting β-cell damage.