ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of silkworm extract (SE) on experimental type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats.
MethodsSE was prepared by dissolving freeze-dried silkworm powder in 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol. T2DM rats were induced by feeding them a high fat diet and an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The blood glucose, free fatty acid (FFA), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The quality of SE was controlled by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; Agilent 1260, Agilent, USA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed for histological evaluation. Antibody expression was assessed via immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining.
ResultsSE could improve insulin resistance and islet cell function by reducing FFA, MDA and TNF-α levels and increasing SOD level. In addition, pancreatic HE staining analysis revealed that SE has a protective effect on islet β-cells.
ConclusionsThe present study indicates that SE has hypoglycemic as well as pancreatic protective effects in T2DM model rats.
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