Hypoglycemic Effect Of Artemisia Sphaerocephala Krasch Seed Polysaccharide

In the present study, the hypoglycemic activity of a new polysaccharide extracted from Artemisia seed residue after extracting oil was examined in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. ASP was administered orally at the different doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg bw) for 4 weeks, while groups received equivalent volumes of vehicle and Xiaokewan were served as controls. In order to characterize the hypoglycemic active mechanism, the influence of ASP about glucose consumption in HepG2 cell were determined. The main results were shown as follows:The ASP at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight (bw) produced a significant decrease in blood glucose levels in diabetic rats (P<0.01). Serum insulin and glucagon were increased in diabetic rats. ASP could relief the lesion of liver caused by diabetes. ASP could enhance antioxidant function of diabetic rats. ASP may have hypolipidemic effect for alloxan-induced diabetic rats.ASP improved glucose comsumption in HepG2 cell, which indicated that ASP could promote ingestion of glucose in liver.That ASP prevented the postprandial increase of glucose, was compatible with the suggested mode of action of galactomannan in decreasing the rate of gastric emptying and delaying the absorption of glucose from the small intestine.The possible hypoglycemic mechanism of ASP involved that, through enhancing antioxidant function, relief the lesion of islets and liver caused by diabetes, repairing lesion islets cell, furthermore increased insulin secretion, and improved ingestion and absorption of glucose in liver, and promoted the conversion of blood glucose into glycogen, therefore reduced blood glucose.In conclusion, ASP as a wild plant polysaccharide, because of its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, it has antidiabetic potential.