흰양삼, 황기, 감초, 구기자, 뽕나무잎, 갈근, 하고초, 오갈피,오미자, 황금, 산약, 황정, 작약, 생지를 1 : 0.7 : 0.4 : 0.7 : 0.4 :0.7 : 1.1 : 0.9 : 0.4 : 0.4 : 0.7 : 0.7 : 0.9 : 0.9의 비율로 함유한 한약재 조성물의 혈당 및 지질대사 개선효과를 제2형 당뇨동물 모델인 db/db 마우스에 있어서 조사하였다. In vitro에서 한약 재조성물 메탄올 추출물의 ${alpha}$-glucosidase 저해활성을 측정한 결과, 경구 혈당강하제로 사용중인 아카보스 (20.7%)에 비해 높은 저해활성 (25.2%)을 나타내었다. 4주령의 수컷 db/db 마우스 (C57BL/KsJ, n = 14)를 1주간의 적응기간이 지난 후 2군으로 나누어 대조군에게는 AIN-93G diet를 기본으로 한 basal diet를, 실험군에게는 동결건조된 한약재조성물 가루를 식이의 10% 수준으로 함유한 식이를 6주간 제공하였다. 한약 재조성물의 섭취는 실험동물의 체중 및 식이 섭취량에 유의적인 영향을 주지 않았으나 공복 혈당 (442.5 ${pm}$ 36.0mg/dL)을 대조군 (489.8 ${pm}$ 34.6mg/dL)에 비해 유의적으로 감소시켰다 (p < 0.05). 또한 한약재조성물 섭취군의 혈장 콜레스테롤 (159.2 ${pm}$ 18.4mg/dL) 농도는 대조군 (185.4 ${pm}$ 13.7mg/dL)에 비해 유의적으로 감소하였으며 (p < 0.05), 혈장 중성지방 농도는 한약재 조성물 섭취군 (99.4 ${pm}$ 15.0mg/dL)이 대조군 (108.8 ${pm}$11.0mg/dL)에 비해 낮아지는 경향을 나타내었다. 따라서 한약 재조성물의 섭취는 당뇨동물모델에 있어서 혈당 및 혈장 콜레스테롤 농도를 감소시켜, 당뇨병 개선 및 당뇨합병증 예방에 기여할 것으로 사료된다.
Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death among Koreans. Control of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia is strongly correlated with decrease in risks for cardiovascular diseases, the most common and fatal diabetic complication. The effects of chronic feeding of a mixture of Chinese herbs on blood lipid profile were measured in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, db/db mice (C57BL/Ks). The Chinese herb mixture was composed of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer,Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Lycium chinense, Morus, Pueraria thunbergiana, Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, Schizandra chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, Dioscorea batatas, Polygonatum doratumvar. pluriflorum, Paeonia lactiflora, and Rehmannia glutinosa in a ratio of 1 : 0.7 : 0.4 : 0.7 :0.4 : 0.7 : 1.1 : 0.9 : 0.4 : 0.4 : 0.7 :0.7 : 0.9 : 0.9. Methanol extract of the Chinese herb mixture was tested for the inhibitory activity against yeast ${alpha}$-glucosidase in vitro. The Chinese herb mixture extract inhibited ${alpha}$-glucosidase by 25.2% at the concentration of 0.5mg/mL. Four weekold male db/db mice (n = 14) were fed AIN-93G semipurified diet or diet containing 10% powder of the Chinese herb mixture for 6 weeks after 1 week of adaptation period. Body weight (39.5 ${pm}$ 1.6 g) and food intake (4.3 ${pm}$ 0.6 g/day) of the Chinese herb group were not significantly different from those of the control group (40.4 ${pm}$ 2.6 g and 4.5 ${pm}$ 0.6 g/day). Consumption of Chinese herb mixture significantly decreased plasma glucose level (442.5 ${pm}$ 36.0mg/dL) compared with the control group (489.8 ${pm}$ 34.6 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Plasma cholesterol level (159.2 ${pm}$ 18.4 mg/dL) of the Chinese herb group was significantly lower than that of the control group (185.4 ${pm}$ 13.7 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Blood glycated hemoglobin (6.3 ${pm}$ 0.8%) and plasma triglyceride levels (99.4 ${pm}$ 15.0mg/dL) of the Chinese herb group were not significantly different from those of the control group (6.7 ${pm}$ 0.7% and 108.8 ${pm}$ 11.0mg/dL). Thus, the Chinese herb mixture could be useful in the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular complications of diabetes.
