中醫藥對糖尿病治療的研究

Research and Development of Chinese Traditional Medicine in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus Using Animal Models

糖尿病常居國人十大死亡病因之列，對於這項異常調控的研發乃刻不容緩之務。事實上，我國在早年即以「消渴症」來描述這項病症，本項報告乃傳統醫藥人仕常用的療法，配合動物實驗，希望閻明其作用，益於中西醫藥的整合。針灸方面，我們曾以糖尿病老鼠來進行中脫穴的電針刺激，確認其降血糖效果。同時，瞭解腦內啡參與這項血糖下降作用；在膜臟正常的老鼠可促使膜島素分泌，在無膜島素的老鼠則可藉由自己的受體來產生作用。中藥方劑，我們則以「八味地黃丸」確認其降血糖作用，並有改善膀航機能的效果。相反地，「六味地黃丸」雖無顯著血糖下降作用，但有改善糖尿病老鼠性行為的功能。另外，中藥純化物方面，赤苟素(paeoniflorin)及升麻酸(isoferulic acid)的降血糖機轉也將被談及。綜合上述結果，我國傳統的醫藥技術確可協助糖尿病的調控，本著「拋磚引玉」的心情期望更多的先進參與這項工作；不論是基礎研究或臨床探討。

In attempt to develop the new therapeutics for Diabetes mellitus (DM), the disorder recognized in the top ten of expired diseases in Chinese, we investigated the effects of acupuncture and traditional medication on blood sugar levels and others in rats with hyperglycemia. In this presentation, electrostimulation at Zhon Wang acupoint in diabetic rats will be introduced. Participation of opioids, especially {J -endorphin, in this action can be considered due to the blockade of naloxone and the increase of plasma immunoreactivities. Direct action of {J-endorphin and insulin-mediated indirect action are involved in the production of hypoglycemia by this acupuncture treatment. Also, antidiabetic action of traditional Chinese medication will be mentioned. Difference of the actions between the two well-established medications in Chinese traditional therapy of DM may help us to characterize the applications in future. Moreover, antihyperglycemic mechanisms of paeoniflorin and isoferulic acid, the purified substances from herbs, will be discussed. The obtained results provide the scientific evidences for the antidiabetic action of traditional Chinese medicine that seems helpful in a future application for the therapy of DM.