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Products: Cashews
Hydro-ethanolic extract of cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) nut and its principal compound; anacardic acid; stimulate glucose uptake in C2C12 muscle cells
Authors: Tedong L, Martineau LC, Vallerand D, Arnason JT, Desire DD, Lavoie L, Kamtchouing P, Haddad PS
- Journals: Mol Nutr Food Res
- Pages:
- Volume: Jul 5
- Year: 2010
Scope: Products of cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) are used in traditional medicine for various ailments; including diabetes.Methods and results: The anti-diabetic properties of cashew plant parts were studied using differentiated C2C12 myoblasts (myotubes) and rat liver mitochondria. Hydroethanolic extract of cashew seed (CSE) and its active component; anacardic acid (AA); stimulated glucose transport into C2C12 myotubes in a concentration-dependent manner. Extracts of other parts (leaves; bark and apple) of cashew plant were inactive. Significant synergistic effect on glucose uptake with insulin was noticed at 100 mug/mL CSE. CSE and AA caused activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in C2C12 myotubes after 6 h of incubation. No significant effect was noticed on Akt and insulin receptor phosphorylation. Both CSE and AA exerted significant uncoupling of succinate-stimulated respiration in rat liver mitochondria.Conclusion: Activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase by CSE and AA likely increases plasma membrane glucose transporters; resulting in elevated glucose uptake. In addition; the dysfunction of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation may enhance glycolysis and contribute to increased glucose uptake. These results collectively suggest that CSE may be a potential anti-diabetic nutraceutical.