Planta Med 2012; 78 - PD99
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320457

In vivo anti-diabetic effect of Aster koraiensis extract

J Kim 1, E Sohn 1, CS Kim 1, YM Lee 1, K Jo 1, JS Kim 1
  • 1Korean Medicine Based Herbal Drug Research Group, Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305–811, South Korea

The extract of the aerial parts of Aster koraiensis (EAK) is a potential advanced glycation end products (AGEs) inhibitor with beneficial effects on diabetes. AGEs is one of the causative factors of diabetic complications. In this study, we investigated the effects of EAK on the pathogenesis of diabetic complications in spontaneous diabetic Torii (SDT) rats. EAK (50 and 100mg/kg) or metformin (350mg/kg) as positive drug were treated once a day orally for 16 weeks. EAK reduced albuminuria and prevented renal AGEs deposition and podocyte apoptosis in SDT rats. The changes of retinal vasculature, such as retinal pericyte loss and blood-retinal barrier breakage were inhibited in EAK-treated SDT rats. Moreover, EAK showed significantly more benefit for diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy compared with metformin. Taken together, our results indicate that EGK could provide a valuable therapeutic approach against diabetic complications.