Meilian Xiaoke capsule combined with metformin for protecting islet cells and lowering blood glucose in diabetic rats / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Meilian Xiaoke capsule (a traditional Chinese medicinal preparation) combined with metformin for protecting islet cells and lowering blood glucose in diabetic rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat models with type 2 diabetes, established by high-fat and high-glucose diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection, were treated with a low dose of metformin, Meilian Xiaoke capsule, or both for 4 weeks by gavage. Blood glucose level was tested in the rats, and islet pathologies and changes in islet β cell number after the treatment were observed with HE staining and aldehyde fuchsin staining, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Treatment with metformin or Meilian Xiaoke capsule alone for 2 or 4 weeks did not produce significant improvement of blood glucose in the diabetic rats. Their combined treatment for 4 weeks resulted in significantly lowered blood glucose level and improved glucose tolerance with also obviously increased islet β cell number and lessened islet pathologies.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Meilian Xiaoke capsule and metformin show a synergistic effect to significantly enhance the therapeutic effect in rats with type 2 diabetes.</p>