Attenuated mTOR Signaling and Enhanced Glucose Homeostasis by Dietary Supplementation with Lotus Seedpod Oligomeric Procyanidins in Streptozotocin (STZ)-Induced Diabetic Mice

This study investigated the protective role of lotus seedpod oligomeric procyanidins (LSOPC) and synbiotics (Bifidobacterium Bb-12 and xylo-oligosaccharide) against high fat and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Administration of LSOPC or synbiotics had no effect on blood glucose in normal mice. Treatments with LSOPC for 12 weeks markedly reduced blood glucose, FFA, endotoxin, and GHbA1c and improved glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and insulin levels. In addition, administration of LSOPC significantly reversed the increase of mTOR and p66^Shc in liver, skeletal muscle, and white adipose tissue (WAT). LSOPC significantly increased glucose uptake and glycolysis in liver, skeletal muscle, and WAT while improving heat generation in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and inhibiting gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis in liver. Furthermore, synbiotics strengthened the improving effect of LSOPC. These findings demonstrated that LSOPC and synbiotics may regulate glucose disposal in peripheral target tissues through the p66^Shc-mTOR signaling pathway

Groups and treatments.

a<p>: Administrated once daily by oral gavage from 1^st–20^th day;</p>b<p>: Administrated intraperitoneal 30 min before a training course of Y-maze test at the 20^th day;</p>c<p>: body weight.</p><p>Groups and treatments.</p

Effects of combined proanthocyanidins extracted from lotus seedpod (LSPC) and <i>Lactobacillus casei-01</i> (LC) on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in Y-maze test.

<p>Groups without any same letters above the bars signify statistically significant differences (P<0.05). CON, SCOP, Piracetam and LC is control, vehicle scopolamine control, positive drug control and <i>Lactobacillus casei-01</i> group, respectively. L-LSPC and H-LSPC is low and high dose of LSPC group, respectively. L-LSPC+LC is L-LSPC and LC combination group. H-LSPC+LC is H-LSPC and LC combination group.</p

Effects of combined proanthocyanidins extracted from lotus seedpod (LSPC) and <i>Lactobacillus casei-01</i> (LC) on the mRNA level of neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS).

<p>Groups without any same letters above the bars signify statistically significant differences (P<0.05). CON, SCOP, Piracetam and LC is control, vehicle scopolamine control, positive drug control and <i>Lactobacillus casei-01</i> group, respectively. L-LSPC and H-LSPC is low and high dose of LSPC group, respectively. L-LSPC+LC is L-LSPC and LC combination group. H-LSPC+LC is H-LSPC and LC combination group.</p

Effects of combined proanthocyanidins extracted from lotus seedpod (LSPC) and <i>Lactobacillus casei-01</i> (LC) on brain malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) levels, total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activities, ratio of T-SOD to MDA (T-SOD/MDA) and ratio of GSH-Px to T-SOD (GSH-Px/T-SOD) in scopolamine-induced amnesia mice.

<p>Notes: Means in the same column with different superscript are significantly different (P<0.05), while sharing any same letters signify insignificant differences. CON, SCOP, Piracetam and LC is control, vehicle scopolamine control, positive drug control and <i>Lactobacillus casei-01</i> group, respectively. L-LSPC and H-LSPC is low and high dose of LSPC group, respectively. L-LSPC+LC is L-LSPC and LC combination group. H-LSPC+LC is H-LSPC and LC combination group.</p><p>Effects of combined proanthocyanidins extracted from lotus seedpod (LSPC) and <i>Lactobacillus casei-01</i> (LC) on brain malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) levels, total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activities, ratio of T-SOD to MDA (T-SOD/MDA) and ratio of GSH-Px to T-SOD (GSH-Px/T-SOD) in scopolamine-induced amnesia mice.</p