Anthocyanin from black rice was reported to have beneficial effects on diabetes, but the molecular mechanisms are still largely unknown. Black rice cultivated from different regions in Taiwan (Hualien and Changhua) were included in this study. Concentrations of anthocyanin were significantly higher using the ethanol extraction method than those using water; therefore, ethanol extracts from Hualien and Changhua black rice (HBRE and CBRE) were used for further investigation. 2-NBDG glucose uptake analysis revealed that both HBRE and CBRE promote glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. The membrane expression levels of GLUT4 and phosphorylation of IRS-1 also had been markedly increased by both HBRE and CBRE, which was in accordance with the glucose uptake results. CBRE did not affect the downstream of IRS-1 but significantly enhanced protein levels of p-AMPK/AMPK. In contrast, HBRE was shown to target various signaling participated in GLUT4 glucose uptake, including PI3K/Akt and the p38 MAPK/ERK. Overall, we demonstrated that anthocyanin-rich extracts from black rice stimulate GLUT4 glucose uptake via upregulation of PI3K/Akt and AMPK/p38 MAPK signaling in C2C12 myotubes. Our findings revealed that anthocyanin-rich black rice might be a promising functional food for the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance and diabetic hyperglycemia.
