AMPK-Mediated Hypoglycemic Effect of Banana Stems Juice on Type 2 Diabetes

Nguyen Thi Dong¹ and Phung Thanh Huong²*

¹Haiduong Centre College of Pharmacy, Hai duong Province, Vietnam.

²Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Corresponding Author E-mail :huongpt@hup.edu.vn

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2812

ABSTRACT: Musa paradisiaca L. (Musaceae) or banana is a common plant in the tropics. Its stem juice has been long used as a traditional cure for diabetic people in several tropical countries. Its hypoglycemic effect has been reported on some experimental hyperglycemic models. However, there has not been any study revealing the hypoglycemic effect and mechanism of banana stem juice in type 2 diabetes. The current study aimed at discovering its effects by a glucose tolerant test on experimental type 2 diabetic rats and an in vitro test on adenosine monophosphate - activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key enzyme in metabolic regulation. The glucose tolerance test was done after 2 weeks of banana stem juice treatment. The glucose AUC of the treated rats was significantly lower (p<0.05%) compared with that of the controls. At the concentration of 50 µg/ml, the banana sample significantly increased the quantity of phosphorylated AMPK, the active form of AMPK, in C2C12 skeleton cells (p<0.001). In conclusion, the glucose tolerance enhancing effect of the banana stem juice was explained by the activation of AMPK which plays an essential role in metabolic homeostasis.

KEYWORDS: AMPK; Glucose Tolerance; Musa Paradisiaca; Stem Juice; Type 2 Diabetes

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