Hypoglycemic effect of polysaccharides of Dendrobium officinale compound on type 2 diabetic mice

This study investigated the hypoglycemic effect of polysaccharides of Dendrobium officinale compound (DOCP) on streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic mice. Compared with the model group, the fasting blood glucose value of DOCP (800 mg/kg) at day 35 of the study significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, DOCP (800 mg/kg) significantly increased the serum insulin content and reduced the insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic mice. Furthermore, DOCP reduced the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-C concentrations, increased the antioxidant capability, and improved liver and pancreas damage in type 2 diabetic mice. DOCP increased the diversity of intestinal flora composition, and the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteriaceae. DOCP (800 mg/kg) induced up-regulation expression of genes such as Glut2, Gck, Pklr, Insr, Pdx-1 and Ins1, but elicited down-regulation of Caspase-3. These results indicate that DOCP achieves antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects in type 2 diabetic mice.