Antidiabetic activities of oligosaccharides of Ophiopogonis japonicus in experimental type 2 diabetic rats

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2012-12, Vol.51 (5), p.749-755
• Main Authors: Li, Pei-Bo, Lin, Wan-Ling, Wang, Yong-Gang, Peng, Wei, Cai, Xue-Ying, Su, Wei-Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antidiabetic effect; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Weight - drug effects; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - pathology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - pathology; Diet, High-Fat - adverse effects; Fasting; Glucagon - blood; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - blood; Glucose Tolerance Test; Glycogen - metabolism; Hypoglycemic Agents - pharmacology; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Oligosaccharides - pharmacology; Oligosaccharides - therapeutic use; Oligosaccharides of Ophiopogonis japonicus; Ophiopogon - chemistry; Organ Size - drug effects; Proteinuria - drug therapy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2012.07.007

► We are the first to report the use of OOJ in the treatment of type 2 diabetic rats. ► OOJ exerts remarkable antidiabetic effect. ► OOJ reduces fasting blood glucose level and improves oral glucose tolerance. ► OOJ modulates PEPCK, GCK, glucagon and GLP-1. ► OOJ exhibits neuroprotective effect and enhances insulin activity. The aim of the present study is to investigate the antidiabetic properties of oligosaccharides of Ophiopogonis japonicus (OOJ) in experimental type 2 diabetic rats. OOJ was administered orally in doses of 225 and 450mg/kg body weight to high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic rats for 3 weeks. The results showed that OOJ treatment could increase body weight, decrease organ related weights of liver and kidney, reduce fasting blood glucose level, and improve oral glucose tolerance in diabetic rats. Moreover, increased glycogen content in liver and skeletal muscle, reduced urinary protein excretion, higher hepatic GCK enzyme activity, lower hepatic PEPCK enzyme activity, enhanced GLP-1 level, decreased glucagon level and alleviated histopathological changes of pancreas occurred in OOJ-treated diabetic rats by comparison with untreated diabetic rats. This study demonstrates, for the first time to our knowledge, that OOJ exerts remarkable antidiabetic effect in experimental type 2 diabetes mellitus, thus justifying its traditional usage.