Ginsenoside Rb1 upregulates expressions of GLUTs to promote glucose consumption in adiopcytes

Previous studies have shown that ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), one of active components in ginseng, can activate insulin signaling pathway and promote translocation of glucose transporters (GLUTs) to increase glucose uptake in adipocytes. However, the effect of Rb1 on the expressions of GLUTs remains unknown. In this study, the effects of Rb1 on GLUT1 and GLUT4 were observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and epididymal adipose tissue of db/db obese diabetic mice. Male db/db mice were treated with Rb1 by intraperitoneal injection at the dosage of 20 mg x kg(-1) for 14 d. Rb1 reduced HOMA-IR significantly (P < 0.05, n = 5), and FBG and FINS sowed declining trend after treatment with Rb1. Rb1 recovered the expressions of GLUT1 and GLUT4 and phosphorylation of AKT in adipose tissue of db/db mice. In vitro, glucose consumption in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with 10 micromol x L(-1) Rb1 for 24 h was elevated (P < 0.05, n=3), and mRNA of GLUT1 and GLUT4 were up-regulated (P < 0.05, n=3) and proteins of GLUT1 and GLUT4 were also increased. AKT was activated in adipocytes treated with Rb1 for 3 h. It can be concluded that ginsenoside Rb1 can up-regulate the expression of GLUTs in adipose tissue, in addition to activate insulin signalling pathway, which may partially account for its insulin sensitizing activity and regulating effect of glucose metabolism.