[Studies on anti-hyperglycemic effect and its mechanism of Dendrobium candidum].

Objective: To study the anti-hyperglycemic effect and its mechanism of Dendrobium candidum (DC).
Method: Normal mice, adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic mice, streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ-DM) rats were used. The mechanisms of the anti-hyperglycemic action were studied with radio-immunoassay, immunohistochemical HRP-SPA stain, etc.
Result: DC could not obviously decrease the serum glucose concentrations and insulin levels in normal mice. It could increase serum insulin levels and decrease serum glucagons concentrations in STZ-DM rats. The results of immunohistochemical stain demonstrated that the number of islet beta cells was increased and that of islet a cells was decreased in STZ-DM rats. It could also decrease the serum glucose concentrations and increase liver glucogen contents in adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic mice.
Conclusion: DC has obvious anti-hyperglycemic effects in adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic mice and STZ-DM rats. Its mechanisms are stimulating the secretion of insulin from beta cells and inhibiting the secretion of glucagons from a cells, and it can probably decrease the decomposition of liver glucogen and increase the synthesis of liver glucogen.