*Article* **Vescalagin from Pink Wax Apple (***Syzygium samarangense* **(Blume) Merrill and Perry) Protects Pancreatic** β**-Cells against Methylglyoxal-Induced Inflammation in Rats**

**Wen-Chang Chang 1,2, James Swi-Bea Wu <sup>2</sup> and Szu-Chuan Shen 3,\***


**Abstract:** Methylglyoxal (MG) is the primary precursor of advanced glycation end products involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation and diabetes. A previous study in our laboratory found antiinflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic effects of the polyphenol vescalagin (VES) in rats with MGinduced carbohydrate metabolic disorder. The present study further investigated the occurrence of inflammation in pancreatic β-cells in MG-induced diabetic rats and the mechanism by which VES prevents it. The results showed that VES downregulates the protein expression levels of advanced glycation end product receptors and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-β and upregulates the protein expression levels of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and glyoxalase I from the pancreatic cells. The results also revealed that VES elevates glutathione and antioxidant enzyme contents and then downregulates c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogenactivated protein kinases pathways to protect pancreatic β-cells in MG-administered rats.

**Keywords:** vescalagin; methylglyoxal; inflammation; antioxidant; insulin secretion
