Pueraria lobata root polysaccharide alleviates glucose and lipid metabolic dysfunction in diabetic db/db mice

CONTEXT: Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (Fabaceae) root extract can lower blood glucose levels; however, whether Pueraria lobata root polysaccharide (PLP) possesses these effects is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the therapeutic effect of PLP on diabetic metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The db/m mice were assigned to normal control group (NC), db/db mice were divided into four groups randomly (n = 8). The db/db mice received rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg BW) or PLP (100 or 200 mg/kg BW) via oral gavage for 6 weeks. Afterward, blood glucose, insulin, and glycogen content were assayed, and insulin tolerance test (ITT), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were performed. Glucose and lipid metabolism-related parameters and gene expression levels were assayed by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: After treatment with HPLP, the values of body weight, epididymal fat, subcutaneous fat, fasting blood glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR decreased to 45.89 ± 1.66 g, 1.65 ± 0.14 g, 1.97 ± 0.16 g, 14.84 ± 1.52 mM, 9.35 ± 0.98 mU/L, and 5.56 ± 1.26, respectively; the levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, and FFA decreased to 1.67 ± 0.11 mmol/L, 6.23 ± 0.76 mmol/L, 1.29 ± 0.07 mmol/L, and 1.71 ± 0.16 mmol/L, respectively. HPLP down-regulated PEPCK, G6PC, FOXO1, SREBP-1, and ACC mRNA expression (p < 0.01), and up-regulated GS, Akt2, PI3K, GLUT2, PPARα, and LDLR mRNA expression in the liver (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: PLP exerts antidiabetic effects via activating the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway, thus improving insulin resistance, glucose, and lipid metabolism in db/db mice. Thus, PLP may be considered as a potential antidiabetic agent in clinical therapy.