Dammarane-type triterpene extracts of <i>Panax notoginseng</i> root ameliorates hyperglycemia and insulin sensitivity by enhancing glucose uptake in skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle is an important organ for controlling the development of type 2 diabetes. We discovered <i>Panax notoginseng</i> roots as a candidate to improve hyperglycemia through <i>in vitro</i> muscle cells screening test. Saponins are considered as the active ingredients of ginseng. However, in the body, saponins are converted to dammarane-type triterpenes, which may account for the anti-hyperglycemic activity. We developed a method for producing a dammarane-type triterpene extract (DTE) from <i>Panax notoginseng</i> roots and investigated the extract’s potential anti-hyperglycemic activity. We found that DTE had stronger suppressive activity on blood glucose levels than the saponin extract (SE) did in KK-<i>A</i>^<i>y</i> mice. Additionally, DTE improved oral glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, glucose uptake, and Akt phosphorylation in skeletal muscle. These results suggest that DTE is a promising agent for controlling hyperglycemia by enhancing glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. DTM improved hyperglycemia.