Flavone Hispidulin Stimulates Glucagon-Like peptide-1 Secretion and Ameliorates Hyperglycemia in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice.

Loss of functional β-cell mass is central for the deterioration of glycemic control in diabetes. The incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) plays a critical role in maintaining glycemic homeostasis via potentiating glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and promoting β-cell mass. Agents that can directly promote GLP-1 secretion, thereby increasing insulin secretion and preserving β-cell mass, hold great potential for the treatment of T2D.GluTag L-cells, INS832/13 cells, and mouse ileum crypts and islets were cultured for examining the effects of flavone hispidulin on GLP-1 and insulin secretion. Mouse livers and isolated hepatocytes were used for gluconeogenesis. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were treated with hispidulin (20 mg/kg/day, oral gavage) for 6 weeks to evaluate its antidiabetic potential. Hispidulin stimulated GLP-1 secretion from L-cell line, ileum crypts, and in vivo. This hispidulin action was mediated via activation of cAMP/PKA signaling. Hispidulin significantly improved glycemic control in diabetic mice, concomitant with improved insulin release and β-cell survival. Additionally, hispidulin decreased hepatic pyruvate carboxylase expression in diabetic mice and suppressed gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes. Furthermore, hispidulin stimulated insulin secretion from β-cells.These findings suggest that hispidulin may be a novel dual-action anti-diabetic compound via stimulating GLP-1 secretion and suppressing hepatic glucose production. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.