Preparation of the Auricularia auricular polysaccharides simulated hydrolysates and their hypoglycaemic effect.

The anti-diabetic effect of the Auricularia auricular polysaccharides simulated hydrolysates (APSHs) obtained from the dried fruiting body of Auricularia auricular was studied in this paper. The APSHs were administered intragastrically (i.g.) at the dose of 0.15g/kg b.w. to the streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic male SD rats for 7 weeks. The results showed that fasting blood glucose level was significantly reduced (p<0.05), whereas the glucose tolerance was remarkable improvement in STZ-induced diabetic rats through APSHs administration, and loss in body weight was also prevented in diabetic mice (p<0.05). Moreover, APSHs could increase hepatic glycogen and pancreatic insulin level (p<0.01), as well as decrease the levels of serum TG and LDL-C compared to the diabetic control group (p<0.05). APSHs had no significant effects on the total cholesterol and HDL-C levels. APSHs were composed of arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, galactose and glucosamine with the molar ratio of 1.91:0.52:2.89:1.00:0.67:0.23. These studies suggest that APSHs exerts marked antidiabetic effect in experimental diabetes mellitus, thus justifying the potential treatment for diabetic mellitus.