1. Background
Unnecessary fructose intake, characteristic for modern diet loaded in polished sugar has been associated with the augmentation of metabolic syndrome [1]. Metabolic syndrome is described the group of character of quite a lot of metabolic abnormalities, based on hyperlipidemia, abdominal obesity and insulin resistance [2]. This disorder is accompanied with an increase in serum insulin, leptin hormone and the possibility for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus [3]. Research indicated that in fructose- fed rats (FFR) circulating triglyceride, the weight of liver, abdominal adipose tissue, and insulin resistance (IR) increased that was accompanied with impaired glucose tolerance [4]. Moreover, in FFR metabolic syndrome is induced which is correlated to hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance [5-7]. Artemisia dracunculus (AD) is an herbal medicine whose extract has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity in vitro and in vivo studies [8]. The experiment indicated that Artemisinin is a powerful drug which obtained from Artemisia is a possible contraceptive agent and has shown anti malarial activity [9]. Moreover aqueous extract of Artemisia capillaries has shown a hepatoprotective effects on FFR [10]. Artemisia extract affected on insulin sensitivity, modulating of carbohydrate metabolism and glucose influx [11]. Investigation revealed that Artemisia extracts had shown hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic properties and antioxidative activity in hepatoma cells in D-galactose-induced oxidative stress in mouse model [12-14]. Literature indicate that Artemisia contain an active compound which affects on skeletal cell membrane and increases insulin sensitivity and can increase adipocyte differentiation in cultured adipocytes [15-17]. Based on above-mentioned investigations, the present study was designed to evaluate the effects of Artemisia dracunculus L leaves aqueous extract on blood sugar, serum insulin trigleserid and liver enzymes in FDW male rats.
2. Methods
At the beginning of the experiment 48 Wistar-albino male rats, weighing 200-250g were selected from the Animal House of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. The animals were kept in numbered cages. The rats had free access to water and food and were sustained in a room at 23 ± 2°C temperature with a fixed 12: 12-h artificial light/dark phase (lights on at 0600 hours by Timer Model: SUL180a, AC220V, China, 6 Am to 6 Pm), and humidity of 45-65%.
After a week of accommodation, the rats were divided into control (C), control Extract (C + E), fructose-Drinking water (FDW) and fructose-Drinking water and extract (FDW + E) groups randomly (n = 12) as follow:
Group C received rodent’s diet and water tap but did not receive any agents throughout the trial period.
Group C+E received water tap, rodent’s diet and 100mg/kg Artemisia dracunculus L leaves aqueous extract daily by gavages during the trial period.
Group FDW received fructose-enriched water (10%, w/v) and rodent’s diets at this time.
Group FDW + E received fructose-enriched water (10%, w/v), rodent’s diets and 100 mg/kg AD aqueous extract daily by gavages during the trial period.
2.1. Preparation of The Extracts
The plants were collected from a local area around Tehran, the capital of Iran in August, 2013 and identified by the biology taxonomy centre in science faculty of sistan and Baluchestan University, Zahedan, Iran. Artemisia dracunculus aerial was separated, shade-dried in a room temperature and then changed into powder by hand [18]. Extraction was obtained by mixing 20 grams of the powder in 200 mL of distilled water in a soxhelet apparatus for 24 hours. The prepared extract was filtered through a gauze cloth followed by filtration through a normal filter paper Watman no.1 [12, 18]. The result was a brown aqueous extract which was dried subsequently in incubator for one day at 45º and sustained in refrigerator temperature (4 °C).
At the end of the experiment (4 weeks) and after overnight fasting (12 - 14 hours) all animal were deeply anesthetized by diethyl ether (Merck Germany), decapitated and blood samples were collected without delay from cervical vessels. All blood samples were collected in normal vials and centrifuged at 3000rpm for 10 minutes to disconnect serum [19]. Serum was removed (BH-1200 type Iran) and accumulated at -70°C for supplementary analyses. Serum insulin was measured by sensitive rat kit (DRG, instruments, GMBH, Germany), using double antibody Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Blood glucose, lipid profile and liver enzymes activity were measured blind by usual methods. Homa -IR scores were obtained with the following formula: Homa -IR = Fasting insulin (μIu) × Fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L)/22.5 [19, 20]. Serum AST and ALT, blood glucose, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels were measured using the standard methods adapted for RA 1000 Analyzer (Technicon, USA) using Pars Azmon kit Iran. Serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) was measured by precipitation of non-HDL lipoprotein with dextran/MgSO4, followed by enzymatic cholesterol assay. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) was calculated according to Friedewald formulas (Friedewald WT 1972).
These experimental animals were taken in accordance with recommendations from the declaration of Helsinki and internationally conventional standards for the employment of experimental animals, and they received institutional ethical authorization from the committee for animal research of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (project No, 6000).
The normal distribution of data was approved by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and then all data were analyzed by SPSS software v. 17; via one way ANOVA and Tukey tests. The results were expressed as mean ± SD. Statistical differences were considered significant at P < 0.05.
3. Results
The results obtained from the present study indicated that insulin resistance indexes (IRI), in FDW groups (0.15 ± 0.06) were significant higher than that of C and C + E groups (0.09 ± 0.03, 0.13 ± 0.06) but this parameter in FDW+E group (0.12 ± 0.05) significantly decreased compared to FDW group (Table 1). In addition, serum insulin, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and triglyceride in group FDW were significantly higher than those of C and C + E groups, but these values in group FDW + E were significantly lower than group FDW (Table 1). Moreover, our findings revealed that Aspartate amino transferase (AST) and Alanine amino transferase (ALT) value in group FDW significantly increased in comparison to C and C+E groups. On the other hands, AST and ALT values in group FDW + E significantly decreased compared to group FDW (Figures 1 and 2). In addition, Alkaline phosphatase (Alp) in all groups did not show any significant differences.
Figure 1.
Comparison of AST (Μiu) Activity Among the Control and Treated Male Rats. Asterisk Show Significant Difference Between Groups N = 12, Values Represent Mean ± SD, * = P < 0.05
Figure 2.
Comparison of ALT (Μiu) Activity Among the Control and Treated Male Rats. Asterisk Show Significant Difference Between Groups N = 12, Values Represent Mean ± SD, * = P < 0.05
Table 1.The Effects of Artemisia dracunculus Aqueous Extract on Blood Sugar, Serum Insulin, IRI and Lipid Profile in FDW Rats (N = 12)
| Parameters | Groups | P Value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group C | Group C + E | Group FDW | Group FDW + E | ||
| IRI | 0.09 ± 0.03 | 0.14 ± 0.06 | 0.15 ± 0.05 | 0.12 ± 0.05* | P < 0.02 |
| Insulin, µ/L | 0.24 ± 0.15 | 0. 4 ± 0.16 | 0.49 ± 0.14 | 0.35 ± 0.13* | P < 0.001 |
| FBS, mg/dL | 112.83 ± 17.87 | 108.75 ± 10.73 | 149.08 ± 26.65 | 121.08 ± 13.77* | P < 0.004 |
| Triglyceride, mg/dL | 52.33 ± 6.59 | 59.33 ± 17.52 | 60.66 ± 11.16 | 48.18 ± 6.21* | P < 0.05 |
*Asterisk show significant difference between groups (P < 0.05). Mean ± SD, n = 12, P < 0.05
Table 2.The Effects of Artemisia dracunculus Aqueous Extract on Weight of Gain, Water and Food Intake in FDW Rats
| Parameters | Groups | P Value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group C | Group C+E | Group FDW | Group FDW +E | ||
| Initial weight, gr | 202.50 ± 12.5 | 200.91 ± 13.46 | 200.41 ± 15.19 | 200.3 ± 12.71 | P > 0.05 |
| Final weight, gr | 236.8 ± 7.3 | 241.5 ± 6.9 | 249.7 ± 8.5 | 232.4 ± 7.7* | P < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.001, |
| Water intake, mL | 45.53 ± 5.88 | 48.30 ± 3.19 | 49.85 ± 0.49 | 49.56 ± 2.66* | P < 0.02, P < 0.004 |
| food intake, mL | 14.28 ± 0.92 | 13.49 ± 1.49 | 12.57 ± 0.96 | 12.20 ± 1.79* | P < 0.01, P < 0.002 |
*Asterisk show significant difference between groups (P < 0.05). Mean ± SD, n = 12, P<0.05
4. Discussion
Fructose utilization in Western diets has been increasing over the past 10 - 20 years and has been associated with an increase in obesity and metabolic disorders [21]. Fructose intake increases plasma triglycerides and changes hepatic glucose homeostasis [21]. Insulin and leptin are two important hormones which interfere in regulation of food intake and body weight gain in all vertebrata [21]. Dietary fructose contributes to an increase in the input of energy, weight gain and alters blood lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis [22]. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are common in patients with metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes and essential hypertension, which are high risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, and play an important role in the development of coronary artery disease [5]. Our findings in the present study revealed that consumption of FDW (10% weight/ volume) during a month in rat model, induced gain of weight, insulin resistance index (IRI), hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia in these animals. These results are supported by previous studies which indicated that fructose-fed and FDW cause increase obesity, insulin resistance , hyperinsulinemia and an abnormal insulin-signaling pathway in the central nervous system such as hippocampus which induced memory insufficiencies in animal model [23]. Literature indicates that in insulin resistance disorders such as type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome, insulin signaling is elevated which alters insulin action in skeletal muscles cell membranes and Artemisia dracunculus L. extract improved insulin action in skeletal muscles cell by increasing insulin signaling [23]. Investigational evidence revealed that metabolic pathways associated to glucose transport through cell membrane, glycolysis and cell signaling are probably influenced by Artemisia dracunculus L aqueous extract that possibly modulates carbohydrate metabolism as well as translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane skeletal muscles cells [23]. This observation indicated that a possible molecular mechanism in the Artemisia dracunculus L aqueous extract components has enhanced glucose uptake, glucose transport in skeletal muscles and adiposcytes cell membrane to insulin and finally improved whole body insulin sensitivity [23]. Our findings in the present study showed that consumption of Artemisia aqueous extract improved IRI in FDW + E group compared to FDW group and the results are in agreement with literature. Moreover, some tests have shown that diabetic and insulin-resistant patients have higher blood glucose and hyperinsulinemia compared to normal population [18]. The liver is a main organ for the protection of lipid, glucose and hormonal homeostasis. Fructose is a greatly lipogenic carbohydrate that has thoughtful metabolic effects on the liver inducing de nova lipogenesis and glucogenesis [24]. Investigation established that demonstration of the extracts from two Artemisia species in mice could enhance insulin-responsive by altering the serine phosphorelation in insulin receptor and affecting on monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in visceral white Adipocyte Tissue [25]. High fructose utilization in modern diet is frequently connected with insulin resistance, and distressed glucose homeostasis [26]. Choi MK et al. ( 2013) reported that the clinical uses of Artemisia capillaries is beneficial for hepatic disorders which is associated with alcohol and its mechanisms may involve both augmentation of antioxidant actions and modulation of proinflammatory cytokines [27]. Moreover, fructose rich diet cause increase of the hepatic triglyceride, total cholesterol levels, as well as serum activities of AST, ALT and lactate dehydrogenase [10]. Our results indicated that FDW increases serum AST and ALT in FDW group but these values decreased in FDW + E group. Our findings were agreement with Schaalan M et al. (2009) which showed that administration of FDW causes hyperglycemia and alters glucose homeostasis, lipid profile, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index in westernized diet [28]. This alteration may be due to the high consumption of fructose in diet that possibly induced hepatocyte damage, leakage and liver enzymes increase in blood circulation.
In addition, Lim DW et al. (2013) reported that administration of Artemisia capillaris extract in high-fat diet (HFD) -induced obese rats could decrease the body gain of weight, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and Lowe Density Lipoprotein in this model [29]. Moreover, in HFD rats which were treated with Artemisia capillaris extract, serum AST and ALT significantly decreased compared to HFD-control group [27]. Our findings also showed that FDW increased the liver injury which is associated with high AST and ALT but this value in group FDW+E were significantly lower than FDW group that was also supported with the findings of Lim DW et al. (2013).
4.1. Conclusion
Our finding in the present study indicated that Artemisia dracunculus leave aqueous extract has anti-hyperglycemic, anti-lipidemic and anti-hepatotoxicity effects in FDW rats.
