Antidiabetic effect of Oenanthe javanica flavone

AIM: To study the antidiabetic effect of Oenanthe javanica flavone (OjF). M ETHODS: Mice were injected iv with alloxan 90 mg.kg(-1) to induce diabetes. Blood glucose, serum lipid, and pancreatic amylase were determined with Au tomatic Biochemistry Analyser. Serum insulin was determined by radioimmunoa ssay. The pancreas and islets were examined under microscope. RESULTS: OjF 200 mg.kg(-1) reduced the blood glucose in normal mice from 0.5 to 6 h afte r a single administration ig. OjF 200 and 400 mg.kg(-1) ig daily for 10 d d ecreased the blood glucose in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). OjF promoted the release of insulin both in normal and in diabe tic mice. OjF decreased serum triglyceride and raised the lowered pancreati c amylases in diabetic mice (P < 0.01, P < 0.01). The islet-injured changes of OjF-treated group were similar to those of control in histology examina tion, but to a lesser degree. CONCLUSION: OjF possessed the hypoglycemic an d hypotriglyceride actions, mainly concerned with promoting release of insu lin from B-cells in islets of langerhans.