Planta Med 2012; 78 - PF16
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320563

Anti-diabetic properties of non-polar Toona sinensis Roem extract prepared by supercritical-CO2 fluid

YH Tsai 1, 3, TJ Hsieh 2, MC Liao 2, PJ Lien 4, CC Sun 4, FR Chang 1, 3, YC Wu 5
  • 1Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 80708, Taiwan
  • 2Graduate Institute of Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, 80708, Taiwan
  • 3Research and Development Center of Chinese Herbal Medicines and New Drugs, Kaohsiung Medical University, 80708, Taiwan
  • 4Metal Industries Research and Development Centre, 811, Taiwan
  • 5College of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, 40402, Taiwan

Toona sinensis Roem (T. sinensis) leaves have been used as a nutritious vegetable and been suggested for medical applications; however, the reported bioactive compounds of T. sinensis leaves are, so far, from high to mid-high polar extracts. Our aims in this study were to reveal the non-polar constituents of the T. sinensis leave extract that were prepared by a method of using a supercritical-CO2 fluid and to investigate the anti-diabetic potential of this extract. Through a GC/MS analysis, we revealed 24 major components of the non-polar T. sinensis leave extract. The non-polar T. sinensis leave extract showed to prevent the progression of diabetes and hepatosteatosis, the rise of triglycerol levels and the decrease of adiponectin levels in the type 2 diabetic mice. Our results suggest that the non-polar extract of T. sinensis leaves prepared using the supercritical-CO2 fluid may contain effective constituents to prevent type 2 diabetes.