- Lei Li, J. Zhong. 2013. Chalcones from Angelica keiskei increase insulin receptor (InsR) and insulin receptor substrate‐2 (IRS‐2) mRNA expression in hepatocytes of rats with type 2 diabetes. Abstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance, of which InsR and IRS play very important roles. Chalcones, isolated from Angelica keiskei, have been reported to possess a variety of biological properties including antidiabetes. To study the effect of chalcones from Angelica keiskei on the expression of InsR and IRS‐2 in hepatocytes, the rats with type 2 diabetes were orally given chalcones with 30, 10 and 0 mg/kg.bw per day for 4 wks, respectively. Blood glucose and serum insulin were evaluated by glucose oxidase method and radioimmunoassay, respectively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression of InsR and IRS‐2. Blood glucose and serum insulin of rats with 30 mg/kg.bw chalcones were significantly lower than the diabetes control. Their mRNA expression of InsR and IRS‐2 were significantly higher than the diabetes control. It may conclude that chalcones from Angelica keiskei may up‐regulate the expression levels of InsR and IRS‐2 and improve insulin resistance of rats with type 2 diabetes. [Financial support: The Health Department of Shandong contract#QNW001]
