Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Abstract

Rhodobacter sphaeroides Extract Improves Glucose Homeostasis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

Chih-Chiang Wang, Wen-Sheng Liu, Fu-Hsin Chang, Pei-Yi Tsai, Ming-Kai Tsai, Jeng-Chuan Shiang and Zhi-Hong Wen

Insulin resistance is one of the most important mechanisms of diabetes mellitus. Anti-oxidants had been proved to improve insulin resistance. However, the direct relation between anti-oxidants and glucose homeostasis is still elusive. Recently, we found that LycogenTM (extracts of Rhodobacter sphaeroides WL-APD911) has lycopene-like activity. Furthermore, LycogenTM showed more potent anti-oxidative effect and less cytotoxicity than lycopene. To evaluate the effect of LycogenTM on blood glucose levels, STZ-induced diabetic mice were randomly divided into four groups: (1) diabetes control group; (2) diabetes+LycogenTM 50 mg/kg; (3) diabetes+LycogenTM 100 mg/kg; and (4) diabetes+LycogenTM 200 mg/kg. After 7 days of treatment, the blood glucose level in the LycogenTM 200 mg/kg group was significantly lower than the disease control group (p<0.01). In the oral glucose tolerance test, the blood glucose level was significantly lower in the LycogenTM 200 mg/kg group than the disease control group (p<0.05). Our results confirmed that LycogenTM, a potent anti-oxidant, can significantly lower blood glucose levels in a diabetic mice model.