Protective Effect of Acanthopanax senticosus Extract on Alloxan-induced β-cell Damage

The protective effect of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) extract on alloxan-induced pancreatic β-cell damage was investigated in HIT T-15 cells, a Syrian hamster pancreatic β-cell line. Alloxan caused the pancreatic β-cell damage through the generation of reactive oxygen free radicals, increased DNA fragmentation, and decreased cellular NAD+ levels. The β-cell damage was significantly prevented by the pretreatment with water soluble extract of AS roots. These results suggest that the protective effect of AS extract, on alloxan-induced β-cell damage, is primarily due to the inhibition of the generation of reactive oxygen free radical species (ROS) by alloxan.