The effect of Korean Red Ginseng extract on rosiglitazone-induced improvement of glucose regulation in diet-induced obese mice

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Meyer) and its constituents have been used for treating diabetes. However, in diet-induced obese mice, it is unclear whether KRG can enhance the glucose-lowering action of rosiglitazone (ROSI), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma synthetic activator. METHODS: Oral glucose tolerance tests (oGTTs) were performed after 4 days of treatment with a vehicle (CON), KRG [500 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)], ROSI (3.75 mg/kg b.w, 7.5 mg/kg b.w, and 15 mg/kg b.w.), or ROSI and KRG (RK) in obese mice on a high-fat diet. Adipose tissue morphology, crown-like structures (CLSs), and inflammation were compared by hematoxylin-eosin staining or quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: gene and the number of CLSs were significantly reduced in the RK group than in the CON group. CONCLUSION: Our results show a potential enhancement of ROSI-induced improvement of glucose regulation by the combined treatment with KRG.