Lycium ruthenicum Murray anthocyanins effectively inhibit α-glucosidase activity and alleviate insulin resistance

Reducing blood glucose level is an important strategy to control type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to explore the potential of Lycium ruthenicum Murray (LM) anthocyanins to reduce blood glucose levels. LM anthocyanins effectively inhibited the activity of α-glucosidase of Caco-2 cells (IC 50 value was 25.3 μg/mL), and promoted glucose consumption and uptake of Hep-G2 cells with insulin resistance (IR). Furthermore, LM anthocyanins effectively improved glycometabolism by alleviating IR through 1) activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine-threonine specific protein kinase B pathway, and inhibiting the activity of downstream glycogen synthase kinase-3 β and forkhead box protein O1; and 2) improving mitochondrial function by reducing cell and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and restoring ATP production and the mitochondrial membrane potential. The results suggested that LM anthcoyanins are helpful in reducing blood glucose levels and therefore could be used to control T2DM.