Objective: To investigate the effects of artemisinin and its derivatives on blood glucose

body weight and expression of inflammatory factors in db/db mice. Methods: Five healthy db/m mice aged 4-6 weeks were collected as the normal control group with responsive feeding. Twenty db/db mice were randomized into four groups: the placebo group

the artemisinin group

the artemether group and the artesunate group

with five mice in each group. The placebo group was administrated with hydroxymethylcellulose daily

and the intervention group was administrated with artemisinin[200 mg/ (kg·d)]

artemether[200 mg/ (kg·d)] and artesunate[200 mg/ (kg·d)] for 10 weeks. The body weight and fasting blood glucose of mice were measured once a week

and the random blood glucose was measured every two weeks. The changes of inflammatory factors in serum were detected by ELISA

including intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1/CD54)

interleukin-6 (IL-6)

interleukin-8 (IL-8)

leptin (LEP)

nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Results: Firstly

compared with db/m group

fasting blood glucose and random blood glucose were all significantly higher in db/db group. Compared with placebo group

the fasting and random blood glucose in artemisinin

artemether and artesunate group decreased significantly. Secondly

compared with db/m group

the body weight of db/db group increased significantly. Compared with placebo

artemisinin could significantly reduce the weight of diabetic mice

while artemether and artesunate had no significant weight loss effect on diabetic mice. Thirdly

compared with db/m group

the levels of ICAM-1/CD54

IL-6

IL-8

LEP

NF-κB and IL-1β in db/db group were all increased. Compared with placebo

artemisinin

artemetherandartesunatesignificantly reduced the levels of ICAM-1/CD54

IL-6

IL-8

LEP

NF-κB and IL-1β in diabetic mice. In comparison

artesunate had the strongest anti-inflammatory ability

and the level of inflammatory factors was reduced significantly

followed by artemisinin

and artemether had relatively weak anti-inflammatory ability. Conclusion: Artemisinin and its derivatives

artemether and artesunate

could significantly reduce the expression of blood glucose and inflammatory factors in db/db mice. Artemisinin can reduce the body weight of db/db mice

but artemether and artesunate have no obvious effect on body weight. In conclusion

artemisinin has the best therapeutic effect on diabetic mice.