Protective effect of amomi semen extract on alloxan-induced pancreatic β-cell damage

The protective effect of Amomi semen extract (ASE) on alloxan-induced pancreatic β-cell damage was investigated in HIT T-15 cells, a Syrian hamster pancreatic β-cell line. Alloxan caused pancreatic β-cell damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the elevation of cytosolic free Ca²⁺, DNA fragmentation and the decrease of cellular NAD⁺ and ATP levels. All these effects of alloxan were significantly prevented by pretreatment with a water-soluble extract of Amomi semen. Pretreatment with ASE in pancreatic islets isolated from mice, also significantly abolished the inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by alloxan. The results of this study provide evidence that ASE may have a protective activity on alloxan-induced β-cell damage, and that the protective effect is primarily due to the inhibition of ROS generation by alloxan.