Glucose Uptake Stimulation Assay of Thai Local Vegetable Extracts in L6 Myotube Cells

Abstract

Introduction: Consumption of vegetables which possess blood sugar lowering effect might retard the progressive of diabetes mellitus (DM) and prevent DM disease in healthy people. To date, the glucose uptake enhancement stimulated by Thai local vegetables in muscle cell cultures have not been many reports. Objectives: The aims of this research were to study glucose uptake effects of 6 Thai local vegetables and the toxicity of those active plants to L6 myotube cells. Materials and Methods: Thai local vegetables extracts were prepared by maceration in 80% ethanol. The glucose uptake stimulation effect of plant extracts was investigated by glucose oxidase assay in L6 myotubes. The cytotoxic of the active extracts was assessed by MTT assay. Results: Crateva magna extract (400 µg/mL) and Portulaca oleracea extract (300 µg/mL) significantly increased glucose uptake into L6 myotubes in dose and time dependent after 50 hr incubation (1.83 and 2.65 fold over basal; p<0.01, respectively) without cytotoxic effect. Conclusion: C. magna and P. oleracea extracts exhibited glucose uptake stimulation activities into L6 myotubes without cytotoxic in the effective doses. The mechanisms of action will be further investigated. This results suggest the possibly promoted of C. magna and P. oleracea consumption as vegetables for reducing of blood sugar level.