Let's see if I understand your question correctly. I assume that you are interested in type 2 diabetes and you wish to see if some plant extract compounds increase insulin output from islets in diabetics.

You have contend with the following issues.

• Mouse β-TC6 cells do not accurately mimic β-cell function. They tend to secrete maximum insulin at glucose concentrations below the normal β-cells. If you succeed in showing some increase in insulin output from β-TC6 cells, the same effect may not be observed in normal β-cells,
• Type 2 diabetics exhibit insulin resistance and are already hyperinsulinemic. Is overtaxing the remaining endogenous β-cells the best strategy? 

If you could find something from natural sources that diminish insulin resistance, improving the function of endogenous insulin, that would be quite nice!

Best,

Dear Tausif Alam

First of all thank you very much for your answer. 

First we will study the effects of extracts (cytotoxicity and cell proliferation assay) on β-TC6 cells. Furthermore, we will investigate various plant extracts on in vitro glucose uptake in β-TC6 cells using 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diaxol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG) and insulin secretion. In addition we will test other biological activities of the extracts such as antioxidant activity. then we will investigate the effects of the extracts on glucose levels and insulin secretions in diabetic rat model.

If you have not already read the following, you may find it useful:

Anti-diabetic effects of Centratherum anthelminticum seeds methanolic fraction on pancreatic cells, β-TC6 and its alleviating role in type 2 diabetic rats

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22954496

Thank you very much. Also I read the PhD thesis of the author arya.

Thanks Tausif and Fulya for your interest in our work on beta cells. Infact, I believe if you have a chance to see the preliminary results on it would help you to study further on the living system in live animals. Good luck