Effect of aged garlic extract (AGE) on hyperglycemia induced by immobilization stress in mice]

The effect of aged garlic extract (AGE) on stress induced hyperglycemia was investigated using the immobilization stress model in mice. After the exposure to immobilization stress for 16 hr per day for 2 consecutive days, the adrenal glands of the mice hypertrophied, and their serum glucose level and corticosterone secretion became elevated, but insulin secretion did not change. These results suggest that the elevation of serum glucose was probably due to the stimulation of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis by the stress. Pretreatment of AGE (5 and 10 ml/kg, p.o.) significantly prevented adrenal hypertrophy, hyperglycemia and elevation of corticosterone, but did not alter serum insulin level. The efficacy of AGE was the same as that of diazepam (5 mg/kg, p.o.). From these results, it is suggested that AGE may prevent stress-induced hyperglycemia, which is the risk of suffering from diabetes mellitus and its progression.