Asiatic acid preserves beta cell mass and mitigates hyperglycemia in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats

Background Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin due to the loss or dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells. This study investigated the beneficial effects of asiatic acid - a triterpenoid compound - preserved beta mass and mitigated hyperglycemia in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods Diabetes mellitus was induced in adult male Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (60 mg/kg body weight). The diabetic rats were divided into untreated and asiatic acid (25 mg/kg) groups. Controls were intraperitoneal injection with citrate buffer. Blood glucose level, plasma insulin, and pancreas immunohistochemistry analysis were examined after a 2-week experimental period. AKT and Bcl-xL expression in the pancreatic islets of rats were evaluated by Western blot methods. Results Blood glucose levels were significantly reduced in rats receiving asiatic acid after streptozocin administration. Asiatic acid concomitantly increased serum insulin levels in diabetic rats. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a marked preservation by asiatic acid of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets of the diabetic rats. Furthermore, asiatic acid in vivo induced pro-survival Akt kinase activation and Bcl-xL expression in the pancreatic islets of diabetic rats. Conclusions These results suggest that asiatic acid exerts its glucose-lowering effects, in part through influences on beta-cell mass. Asiatic acid administration resulted in preservation and restoration of beta-cell mass and function in diabetic rodent models. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.