Effect of puerarin on the P13K pathway for glucose transportation and insulin signal transduction in adipocytes

To explore the effect of puerarin on insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and protein expression of protein kinase B(PKB) in the P13K pathway of the glucose consumption, transportation and insulin signal transduction in 3T3-L1 adipocytes with insulin resistance. The insulin resistance 3T3-L1 adipocytes model was established by free fatty acid induction. The model cells were managed with puerarin in different concentrations. Glucose consumption was detected with glucose oxidase method, glucose transportation rate was determined by 2-deoxy-3H glucose ingesting method, and the IR, IRS-1 and PKB expression were determined by Western blot. Glucose consumption and transportation were significantly decreased in the model adipocytes, but increased after treated with puerarin (P<0.01). Moreover, the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of IR subunit β was higher in the puerarin treated groups, and that of IRS-1 was higher in the group treated with low dose puerarin than that in the model group. The 3T3-L1 adipocytes of insulin resistance model could be induced by free fatty acid successfully, puerarin could promote the glucose utilization in them to alleviate the insulin resistance, which may be related with the action in advancing the tyrosine phosphorylation of IR and IRS-1.