Abstract:In this study, the hypoglycemic effect of the polysaccharide Eucommia ulmoides leaves in diabetic rats was investigated. Diabetic rat model was established and treated with the polysaccharide obtained from Eucommia ulmoides leaves. The scavenging capacities for DPPH and ABTS free radicals, the inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, and the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), caspase-3, p38MAPK and TGF-β1 protein were measured. The results showed that the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates were 65.15% and 49.68%, respectively, when the Eucommia ulmoides leaf polysaccharide concentration was 1 mg/mL. For the group treated with a high-dose of Eucommia ulmoides leaf polysaccharide, the Iα-glucosidase, FBG and BUN were 90.47%, 9.21 mmol/L and 6.85 mmol/L, respectively, which were significantly different from those of the other groups (p<0.05). The MDA, GSH-Px and SOD of the high-dose group were 7.27 μmol/L, 54.27 U/mg, and 81.27 g/mL, respectively, which were all better than the other experimental groups (p<0.05). The caspase-3, p38MAPK and TGF- β1 of the high-dose group were 0.50, 0.49, and 0.51, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of the positive control group (p<0.05). The research results show that the polysaccharide from Eumoides ulmoides leaves can significantly reduce the level of FBG in diabetic rats, exhibit a significant antioxidant effect, and provide a protective effect on the islet cells of diabetic rats.
