Oxidative stress resulting from the depletion of glutathione (GSH) level plays a vital role in generating various degenerative diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D). We tested the hypothesis that depleted glutathione levels can be enhanced and the impaired glucose metabolism can be prevented by supplementing Allium hookeri, a herb rich in organosulfur compounds, in a High Fat (HF) diet-induced T2D Male Sprague Dawley rat model. The experimental rats were divided into three groups (n = 6), namely normal diet, high-fat diet, and high-fat diet treated with A.hookeri methanolic leaf extract (250 mg/kg). Consumption of HF diet along with the plant extract resulted in significant reduction of the body weight (7.08%–14.89%) and blood glucose level (6.5%–16.4%) from the 13th week onward. There was a significant decrease in reactive oxygen species, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels, and an increase in GSH level in skeletal muscle tissues supplemented with the plant extract. The protein expressions of the signaling molecules such as GCLC and GR involved in GSH synthesis and of GLUT4 in glucose transport were also upregulated in the skeletal muscle tissues of the plant extract-treated group. Results of in vitro studies with muscle cell line (L6) further demonstrated the beneficial effect of the plant extract in increasing glucose uptake and maintaining the GSH/GSSH equilibrium via regulation of protein expression of GCLC/GR/GLUT4 signaling molecules in sodium palmitate (0.75 mM) treated cells. Overall this study suggests that dietary supplementation with Allium hookeri, can restore the glutathione level and regulate the blood glucose level in T2D.

谷胱甘肽 (GSH) 水平消耗引起的氧化应激在各种退行性疾病的发生中发挥着至关重要的作用，包括 2 型糖尿病 (T2D)。我们在高脂 (HF) 饮食诱导的 T2D 雄性 Sprague Dawley 大鼠模型中测试了这样的假设：补充葱（一种富含有机硫化合物的草药）可以提高谷胱甘肽水平并预防葡萄糖代谢受损。实验大鼠分为三组（n = 6），即正常饮食组、高脂饮食组和用胡克里木甲醇叶提取物（250 mg/kg）处理的高脂饮食组。从第13周开始，食用HF饮食和植物提取物导致体重（7.08%–14.89%）和血糖水平（6.5%–16.4%）显着降低。补充植物提取物的骨骼肌组织中活性氧、氧化型谷胱甘肽 (GSSG) 水平显着降低，GSH 水平增加。在植物提取物处理组的骨骼肌组织中，参与 GSH 合成的信号分子 GCLC 和 GR 以及葡萄糖转运中的 GLUT4 的蛋白表达也上调。肌细胞系 (L6) 的体外研究结果进一步证明了植物提取物通过调节棕榈酸钠中 GCLC/GR/GLUT4 信号分子的蛋白表达，在增加葡萄糖摄取和维持 GSH/GSSH 平衡方面具有有益作用 (0.75 mM）处理的细胞。总体而言，这项研究表明，膳食补充葱可以恢复 2 型糖尿病(T2D) 患者的谷胱甘肽水平并调节血糖水平。