Gentiana scabra extracts stimulate glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion via G protein-coupled receptor pathway

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) which secreted by enteroendocrine L cell have been issued as a therapeutic agent for type II diabetes mellitus, because of its function to stimulate insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. It is widely studied that sweet, bitter, and umami taste stimuli induce the secretion of GLP-1 in enteroendocrine L cell via G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathway. Gentiana scabra (GS) is one of the bitter tasting herbal medicines which have been used in traditional oriental medicine to treat the diabetes mellitus. This study shows the GLP-1 secretion of the enteroendocrine L cell stimulated by stimulation of GS extractions through GPCR pathway. To examine the molecular mode-of-action, GLP-1 ELISA and microarray was performed. This study provides the understanding the possibility of GS used as a therapeutic herbal medicine for the type II diabetes.