Antihypertriglyceridemia and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Monascus-Fermented Dioscorea in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Yeu-Ching Shi, Jiunn-Wang Liao and Tzu-Ming Pan.

Experimental Diabetes Research. (2011) 2011:710635.

The rice fermented by Monascus, called red mold rice (RMR), and has a long tradition in East Asia as a dietary staple. Monascusfermented dioscorea called red mold dioscorea (RMD) contains various metabolites to perform the ability of reducing oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory response.We usedWistar rats and induced diabetes by injecting streptozotocin (STZ, 65mg/kg i.p.). RMD was administered daily starting six weeks after disease onset. Throughout the experimental period, significantly (P < .05) lowered plasma glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, free fatty acid and low density lipoprotein levels were observed in the RMDtreated groups. The RMD-treated diabetic rats showed higher activities of glutathione disulfide reductase, glutathione reductase, catalase and superoxide dismutase (P < .05) in the pancreas compared with the diabetic control rats. RMD also inhibited diabetesinduced elevation in the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α. Pancreatic β-cells damaged by STZ in theRMD supplemented groups were ameliorated. The results of this study clearly demonstrated that RMD possesses several treatment-oriented properties, including the control of hyperglycemia, antioxidant effects, pancreatic β-cell protection and anti-inflammatory effects. Considering these observations, it appears that RMD may be a useful supplement to delay the development of diabetes and its complications.

[血糖] 紅麴發酵山藥對於STZ 誘導糖尿病大鼠具有抗高三酸甘油脂血症及抗發炎活性

利用紅麴菌株以米為基質之發酵產物稱為紅麴米，在亞洲國家已有相當長之使用歷史。以山藥為基質進行發酵之紅麴山藥，具有相當豐富之代謝產物，包括抗氧化物，對於減少氧化壓力和發炎反應具改善之潛力。本實驗餵食紅麴山藥於藥物 (streptozotocin) 誘導之糖尿病老鼠，6 周實驗後觀察可知，餵食紅麴山藥之糖尿病老鼠其血液葡萄糖、膽固醇、三酸甘油脂、游離脂肪酸等含量皆遠低於控制組老鼠；其胰臟抗氧化酵素活性遠高於控制組老鼠；其發炎促進因子 (IL-1, IL-6, ITF-, TNF-) 含量皆低於控制組老鼠；胰臟組織切片觀察之損傷少於控制組老鼠。綜合以上實驗結果得知，紅麴山藥不僅能控制糖尿病症狀、提升體內抗氧化能力、保護組職免受藥物損傷，還具抗發炎之功效，顯示紅麴山藥具延緩糖尿病情或其併發症發展之潛力。