Dehydrotrametenolic acid sensitize animal models of Non-Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus to insulin

我们最近已经确定了三萜酸化合物，脱氢曲美烯醇酸作为胰岛素增敏剂。该天然产物已从干燥的P.茯苓（Polyporaceae）是一种传统的中药植物，在体外能激活过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ（PPAR γ），促进脂肪细胞分化。我们研究了脱氢曲美烯醇酸对肥胖高血糖db/db小鼠血浆葡萄糖浓度的影响。脱氢曲美烯醇酸可降低非胰岛素依赖型糖尿病（NIDDM）小鼠模型中的高血糖症，并可作为胰岛素增敏剂，如葡萄糖耐量试验结果所示。这些萜类化合物和噻唑烷类抗糖尿病药物（如阿格列酮）虽然结构上不相关，但在生物学活性方面具有许多共同特征：均诱导脂肪转化、体外激活PPAR γ并降低NIDDM动物模型中的高血糖症。脱氢曲美烯醇酸是一种很有前途的新型胰岛素增敏剂。这一发现对开发非噻唑烷类胰岛素增敏剂具有重要意义。

We have recently identified the triterpene acid compound, dehydrotrametenolic acid functioning as an insulin sensitizer. This natural product has been isolated from dried sclerotia of P.(Poria)cocos Wolf (Polyporaceae), which is a well known traditional Chinese medicinal plant, and is observed to activate PPAR γ and promote adipocyte differentiation in vitro. We have examined the effects of dehydrotrametenolic acid on plasma glucose concentration in obese hyperglycemic db/db mice. Dehydrotrametenolic acid can reduce hyperglycemia in mouse models of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and act as an insulin sensitizer as indicated in the results of the glucose tolerance test. These terpenoids and thiazolidine type of antidiabetic agents such as Ciglitazone although structurally unrelated, share many common features in their biological activities: both induce adipose conversion, activate PPAR γ in vitro and reduce hyperglycemia in animal models of NIDDM. Dehydrotrametenolic acid is a promising candidate as a new type of insulin sensitizing drug. This finding is very important for the development of nonthiazolidine type of insulin sensitizer.