Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: Gardeniae Fructus (Gardenia) is one of composed crude drugs in traditional Chinese medicine bofutsushosan (Pulvis ledebouriellae compositae). In the present study, mechanisms of gardenia for anti-diabetic actions were investigated in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed and streptozotocin-treated (HFD/STZ) diabetic mice. Gardenia was administered orally to HFD/STZ.diabetic male ddY mice at 8 weeks of age. Gardenia (0.3-1.0 g/kg) decreased body weight and value of homeostasis model assessmentinsulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in the diabetic mice. Gardenia (1.0 g/kg) accelerated clearance of 1.5 g/kg glucose administered intraperitoneally and increased an exogenous glucose-released serum insulin level in the diabetic mice. Gardenia also potentiated actions of 63 and 630 ng/kg insulin loaded intraperitoneally on serum glucose level in the diabetic mice. These results implied that gardenia improved the insulin resistance in the diabetic mice. Gardenia decreased levels of triglyceride and cholesterol in serum and liver of the diabetic mice, reduced serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, leptin and free fatty acid (FFA) and increased serum level of adiponectin in the diabetic mice. Gardenia also reduced the production of TNF-α and leptin, and increased the production of FFA and adiponectin in the epididymal adipose tissues. In conclusion, gardenia decreased the production of TNF-α and leptin, and increased the production of adiponectin in the visceral adipose tissues to improve insulin resistance and increased levels of serum triglyceride and cholesterol in the HFD/STZ-diabetic mice.

Key words: Gardeniae Fructus, high-fat diet and streptozotocin-diabetic mouse, tumor necrosis factor-α, leptin, free fatty acid, adiponectin, insulin resistance