Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic Clamps in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice
Published on: November 16, 2011
Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal the potential of hydroxy-alpha-sanshool in alleviating insulin
Yuping Zhu1, Pan Yang1, Tingyuan Ren2
1School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
Abstract:
Hydroxy-alpha-sanshool (HAS) has attracted attention because of its various biological activities, such as hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of HAS on insulin resistance (IR) and its mechanism. HAS reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG), promoted insulin (INS) secretion, significantly decreased levels of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and increased the IL-2 level in serum of IR model mice. HAS regulated the mRNA levels of protein kinase B (Akt), B-cell lymphoma extra-large (Bcl-xL), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E). Additionally, differentially abundant metabolites in IR model mice treated with HAS were involved in these signaling pathways including prion disease, choline metabolism in cancer, regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes and the pentose phosphate pathway and positively regulated betaine abundance. In conclusion, HAS activated the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt insulin and NF-κB signaling pathways to maintain glucose homeostasis and regulate IR.
Related Concept Videos
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...
Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways
Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment primarily uses...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones

