Effects of Maca, Polygonatum sibiricum and Platycodon grandiflorum on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism

Abstract:

This study was to investigate whether the combination of aqueous extracts from maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp)，Polygonatum sibiricum and Platycodon grandiflorum could effectively regulate glucose and lipid metabolism at cellular level. Ultrasonic-assisted water extraction was adopted to obtain their aqueous extracts. The HJJG aqueous extract was achieved by mixing the extracts form Polygonatum sibiricum (HJ) and Platycodon grandiflorum (JG) at a mass ratio of 1∶1. A glucose-lipid metabolic disorder model was established by inducing human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) with free fatty acid，fructose and glucose. Metformin was used as the positive control group to evaluate effects of aqueous extract of maca，HJJG or maca-JHHG mixture on the model cells at different concentration (0.25，0.5, 1 mg/mL). The glucose absorption，intracellular glycogen，triglyceride (TG)，total cholesterol (TC) and reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) levels in the model cells were measured. The results showed that glucose and lipid metabolism in model HepG2 cells could be significantly regulated by combing maca and HJJG aqueous extracts. They coordinately promoted the sugar absorption and intracellular glycogen synthesis. They also reduced the levels of TC and intracellular ROS in cells (P < 0.05)，especially. The mixture of maca (1 mg/mL) and HJJG (1 mg/mL) at a volume ratio of 1∶1 exhibited the best effect.