ARS | Publication request: ACTIVATION OF INSULIN-LIKE ACTIVITY OF PROANTHOCYANIDINS FROM CINNAMON

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 20, 2006
Publication Date: March 1, 2006
Citation: Lampke, S.M., Pavlovich, J., Polansky, M.M., Anderson, R.A., Graves, D.J. 2006. Activation of insulin-like activity of proanthocyanidins from cinnamon. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 20:A939.

Technical Abstract: Earlier it was found that water soluble extracts of cinnamon have insulin-like activity and could affect insulin signaling pathways in epididymal fat cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Activity has been shown to be associated with proanthocyanidins from cinnamon. Fractionation of extracts by HPLC has yielded various oligomers with bioactivity. The maximal insulin-like activity of fraction 6, containing a trimeric proanthocyanidin A, was negligible when assayed as purified under acidic conditions, but was equivalent to that of saturating amounts of insulin when the fraction was adjusted to pH 9.4 and incubated overnight at room temperature prior to the assay. By using electrospray mass spectrometry we have identified oxidized forms derived from dimeric and trimeric proanthocyanidins by incubation at alkaline pH values. Addition of phenylenediamine adds mass to these forms consistent with oxidative reactions forming quinone products. Research was supported in part by a grant from Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, CA to D. Graves.