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Planta Med 2009; 75(13): 1418-1420
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185704
Pharmacology
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Antioxidant and Protective Effects of Major Flavonoids from Teucrium polium on β-Cell Destruction in a Model of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

Mohammad Ali Esmaeili1 , Fereshteh Zohari1 , Heibatollah Sadeghi2
  • 1Department of Biology, Medicinal Plants and Drug Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University G. C., Tehran, Iran
  • 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Herbal Medicine Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Science, Yasuj, Iran
Further Information

Publication History

received January 24, 2009 revised March 30, 2009

accepted April 7, 2009

Publication Date:
18 May 2009 (online)

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Abstract

The hypoglycemic effect of Teucrium polium has been accounted for by its constituents that increase insulin release. The present study aimed to investigate whether the major flavonoid compounds (rutin and apigenin) from the methanol extract of Teucrium polium would stimulate insulin secretion and, if so, to further elucidate the mechanism behind this effect. Isolated rat pancreatic islets were batch incubated to study the effect of rutin and apigenin on insulin secretion at various glucose concentrations. Treated islets in the presence of streptozotocin (STZ) and flavonoid compounds significantly increased insulin release by almost 56 % compared with STZ-treated islets. Our data indicated that the flavonoids in T. polium extract appeared to be helpful in protecting pancreatic islets against exposure to STZ in vitro due to their antioxidant activity.

Key words

flavonoids - hypoglycemic - insulin - Lamiaceae - Teucrium polium

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Mohammad Ali Esmaeili

Department of Biology
Medicinal Plants and Drug Research Institute
Shahid Beheshti University, G. C.

Evin,

Tehran

Iran

Phone: + 98 21 29 90 30 25

Fax: + 98 21 29 90 30 23

Email: m_esmaeili@sbu.ac.ir

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