The impact of Rhodiola Rosea on biomarkers of diabetes, inflammation, and microbiota in a leptin receptor-knockout mouse model

Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent endocrine disease in the world, and
recently the gut microbiota have become a potential target for its
management. Recent studies have illustrated that this disease may
predispose individuals to certain microbiome compositions, and treatments
like metformin have been shown to change gut microbiota and their
associated metabolic pathways. However, given the limitations and side
effects associated with pharmaceuticals currently being used for therapy
of diabetes, there is a significant need for alternative treatments. In
this study, we investigated the effects of a root extract from Rhodiola
rosea in a Leptin receptor knockout (db/db) mouse model of type 2
diabetes. Our previous work showed that Rhodiola rosea had
anti-inflammatory and gut microbiome-modulating properties, while
extending lifespan in several animal models.In this study, treatment with
Rhodiola rosea improved fasting blood glucose levels, altered the response
to exogenous insulin, and decreased circulating lipopolysaccharide and
hepatic C-reactive protein transcript levels. We hypothesize that these
changes may in part reflect the modulation of the microbiota, resulting in
improved gut barrier integrity and decreasing the translocation of
inflammatory biomolecules into the bloodstream. These findings indicate
that Rhodiola rosea is an attractive candidate for further research in the
management of type 2 diabetes.