ANTIDIABETIC EFFECTS OF A DIETARY-SUPPLEMENT PANCREAS TONIC

Pancreas Tonic, a dietary supplement, contains plant products shown to possess hypoglycemic activity. This study investigated the effect of Pancreas Tonic on serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and pancreat ic islet cell regeneration of rats. Results showed that body weights o f three groups of rats were not significantly different from each othe r before the study period, and after the 12 week study weights increas ed with nonsignificant difference among the groups. The diabetic group had significantly higher serum glucose levels compared with controls, and the diet-treated group bud significantly lower serum glucose leve ls compared with the diabetic group. The diabetic group's glycosylated hemoglobin was significantly higher compared with the control group, and the diet-treated group had significantly lower glycosylated hemogl obin levels compared with the diabetic and control groups. Histologica l analysis of the pancreas showed a generalized reduction in size and number of islets in the diabetic group and regeneration of: islet cell s in the diet-treated group compared with the diabetic group. The diab etic group had a significant reduction in the number of cells compared with controls. The diet-treated group contained a significantly incre ased number of cells compared with the diabetic group. These data sugg est that Pancreas Tonic induced an antidiabetic effect through pancrea tic islet. cell regeneration in experimental ruts.