Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high levels of blood glucose resulting from a lack of insulin secretion or insulin resistance [1]. Insulin is produced in pancreatic islets (PIs) by β-cells, which comprise 70-80% of the PI mass, diabetes develops as a result of a decreased number of pancreatic β-cells and/or pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. In this regard, type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta (β) cells, resulting in severe insulin deficiency, unlike type 2 diabetes, characterized by deficient insulin action caused by insulin resistance [1]. Ginger is one of the most famous medicinal herbs in traditional Chinese and Indian Medicine, reporting efficacy in several diseases including Diabetes mellitus, diabetic complications and metabolic syndrome, being the most active ingredients gingerols and shogaol [2]. Thus, we aim to enhance the antidiabetic activity of ginger extract by using a bioconversion approach in order to increase bioactive components concentration. First, we confirmed diabetic condition in zebrafish model by observing pancreatic islet damaged either by diabetogenic agent Alloxan or insulin resistance, using 2-NBDG which is widely used to assess glucose uptake in the cells. Next, we established a model for obesity by overfeeding zebrafish since obesity is a risk for developing metabolic disorders such as diabetes [3]. Finally, our results suggest that fermented extract enhanced efficacy of ginger on diabetic zebrafish.
[1] Nam YH, Hong BN, Rodriguez I, Ji MG, Kim K, Kim UJ, Kang TH. J Agric Food Chem 2015; 63(23): 5612-21.
[2] Li Y, Tran VH, Duke CC, Roufogalis BD. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012; 2012: 516870.
[3] Landgraf K, Schuster S, Meusel A, Garten A, Riemer T, Schleinitz D, Kiess W, Körner A. BMC Physiol. 2017; 17: 4.