Planta Med 2009; 75 - PJ138
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234943

Opuntia leucotricha possesses insulin-like activities inducing glucose uptake in murine and human normal and diabetic-like adipocytes

R Zapata-Bustos 1, AJ Alonso-Castro 1, J Romo-Yañez 1, LA Salazar-Olivo 1
  • 1Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, División de Biología Molecular. Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Lomas 4a secc., San Luis Potosí, SLP, 78216México

We investigated the anti-diabetic mechanisms of Opuntia leucotricha assaying the effects of non-toxic concentrations of aqueous extracts of fruits (OFE) and seeds (OSE) of this plant on the 2-NBDglucose uptake [1] and adipogenesis [2] in 3T3-F442A murine and human normal subcutaneous adipocytes. In insulin-sensitive 3T3 adipocytes, OFE and OSE (50µg/ml) stimulated the 2-NBDG uptake by 144% and 152%, respectively whereas in human adipocytes induced the 2-NBDG uptake by 123% and 67%. Tested in the presence of insulin, none of the extracts showed an additive induction of 2-NBDG uptake. Both extracts induced 2-NBDG uptake by 78% in 3T3 insulin-resistant adipocytes whereas in insulin-resistant human adipocytes OFE and OSE stimulated the glucose analog uptake by 82% and 51% respectively. On the other hand, OFE and OSE moderately increased murine (138% and 153%, respectively) and human (132% and 138%, respectively) adipogenesis, mainly by means of their insulin-like activities. Our results suggest that Opuntia leucotricha exerts its anti-diabetic effects stimulating glucose uptake in both insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant murine and human adipocytes moderately inducing its adipogenesis.

Acknowledgements: RZB and AJAC were endowed with graduate fellowships from CONACYT (211445 and 210841, respectively). AJAC also received special support from IPICYT (SA-157/2008).

References: [1] Alonso-Castro, A.J., Salazar-Olivo, L.A. (2008)J. Ethnopharmacol. 118:252–256.

[2] Ramírez-Zacarías, J.L. et al. (1992). Histochem. 97:493–497.