Antidiabetic effect of folium mori in GK rats

The antidiabetic effect of hot water extracts from Folium Mori was investigated in GK rat, one of the animal models of non-insulin dependent diabetic mellitus types. Folium Mori extracts (150 mg/kg) significantly reduced the blood glucose of GK rat from 203.8 +/- 29.8 to 138.5 +/- 21.2 mg/dl at 14 days after oral administration. However, in normal rats, blood glucose and insulin levels were not changed by treatment with Folium Mori. The Folium Mori also decreased blood glucose and improved glucose tolerance at 14 days after repeated administration in GK rats. The Folium Mori treatment significantly increased glucose metabolism in the glucose clamp test for GK rats. These results suggest that Folium Mori has quite unique properties such as raising insulin sensitivity and improving insulin resistance.