Insulin secretagogue bioactivity of finger citron fruit (Citrus medica L. var. Sarcodactylis Hort, Rutaceae)

J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Oct 14;57(19):8812-9. doi: 10.1021/jf902143x.

Abstract

Finger citron [Citrus medica L. var. Sarcodactylis Hort, Rutaceae] (FC) fruits, widely cultivated in Japan, the southern provinces of China and Taiwan, are commonly used as functional vegetables and preserved as sweetmeats. Previously we identified the major compounds in essential oils (% in EO) of FC fruits to be d-limonene (51.24), gamma-terpenene (33.71), alpha-pinene (3.40), and beta-pinene (2.88). Documented evidence on its insulin secretion characteristics is still lacking. In parallel to compositional analysis, we performed in vivo the safety, hypoglycemic, and antidiabetic tests in Sprague-Dawley-SPF rats and Wistar DIO rats respectively. By kinetic analysis on the hypoglycemic patterns of the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance (IPGTT) and the insulin-glucose tolerance tests (IGTT), its insulin secretagogue effect was confirmed. In conclusion, FC fruits that concomitantly possess insulin secretagogue and slimming effects would be very beneficial to type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bicyclic Monoterpenes
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / analysis
  • Citrus / chemistry*
  • Cyclohexenes / analysis
  • Diet*
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Limonene
  • Monoterpenes / analysis
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Terpenes / analysis

Substances

  • Bicyclic Monoterpenes
  • Blood Glucose
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds
  • Cyclohexenes
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Monoterpenes
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Terpenes
  • beta-pinene
  • Limonene