Molecular and cellular endocrinology
-
Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. · Aug 2013
Oleanolic acid improves hepatic insulin resistance via antioxidant, hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects.
Insulin resistance is the hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is closely related to disorder of lipid metabolism. The study was designed to evaluate the effects of oleanolic acid (OA) on hepatic insulin resistance and underlying mechanisms in Lep(db)(/)(db) obese diabetic mice. db/db Mice were administered with OA (20mg/kg/day, i.p.) for two weeks. OA reduced body weight, liver weight, and fat weight, and protected liver morphology and function. ⋯ Furthermore, inflammatory condition in db/db mice was improved by OA, as evidenced by decreased level of IL-1 β, IL-6, and TNFα in circulation and in liver. The evidence suggests that OA improves hepatic insulin resistance through inhibition of mitochondrial ROS, hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects. The effectiveness of OA leads to interesting therapeutic perspectives.