Résumé
This study was aimed to observe the effects on glucolipid metabolism of aqueous extract of traditional South African herb Sutherlandia. Intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) combined with high fat feed method was used in the establishment of type 2 diabetes rat model. Then, rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, pioglitazone group, and the Sutherlandia group. Observation was made on changes of body weight, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), blood triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C). Western blot method was used to detect IRS-1 expression of skeletal muscle in rats of each group. The results showed that compared with the normal group, body weight in the model group was decreased, and indicators of OGTT, TG, TC, LDL-C were significantly increased (P< 0.05). Symptoms such as increased drink-ing, eating and urine were obvious; and the IRS-1 expression was obviously decreased (P< 0.05). After treatment, compared with the model group, there was no significant body weight increase in the Sutherlandia group or the pi-oglitazone group. Indicators of blood glucose, TG, TC in the Sutherlandia group and the pioglitazone group were ob-viously decreased with no statistical difference (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). In the Sutherlandia group and the pioglitazone group, IRS-1 expression of skeletal muscle in rats was obviously increased with no statistical difference (P< 0.05). It was concluded that type 2 diabetes rats induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ combined with high fat feed method can induce glucolipid metabolism disorders. Traditional South African herb Sutherlandia can obviously reduce the blood sugar level, improve blood lipid metabolism, and improve the level of insulin. Sutherlandia can improve the IRS-1 expression of skeletal muscle in rats, relief the insulin resistance, and lower blood sugar. However, the effect of its exact ways required further in-depth study.