Liuwei Dihuang exhibits antidiabetic effects through inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase

Objective: Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH) is a famous traditional herbal medicine formula in China that may regulate the balance of kidney yin yang and has been used to restore functional insufficiency of the kidney for a long time in China. Methods: In this study, the water extract of LWDH was tested for its alpha-Amylase and alpha-Glucosidase inhibitory activities, and its anti-diabetic property in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice was also analyzed. Results: LWDH extract inhibited alpha-Glucosidase and alpha-Amylase activities in a dose- dependent manner. Treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice with LWDH extract decreased camp, fasting blood glucose, TC, TG, LDL-c, HbA1C, Urine volume levels and Urine sugar, increased HDL-c level when compared to STZ induced diabetic mice. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that extract of LWDH can inhibitor-amylase and alpha-glucosidase activities and shows anti-diabetic effect in a mice preclinical model.