Introduction & Objective: Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance or insufficient insulin secretion, resulting in hyperglycemia. The global prevalence of diabetes is on the rise, especially among younger age groups, presenting significant public health challenges. China has the most diabetes patients worldwide, with nearly 61 million new cases in the past decade. Therefore, there is an urgent need for safer, more effective, and cost-effective antidiabetic medications. This study aims to investigate the potential of Saccharum sinense Roxb. polysaccharides as a novel herbal medicine for diabetes treatment.
Methods: We administered a single dose of Saccharum sinense Roxb. polysaccharides to C57BL/6 mice to assess its impact on peak blood glucose levels during oral glucose tolerance tests. Additionally, we utilized diabetic mouse models for drug screening, using metformin as the positive control, to identify Z300 as a potential component.
Results: Our findings revealed that Z300 effectively improved disturbances in glucose metabolism, kidney injury, and lipid metabolism. It regulated body weight gain, prevented fatty liver, and exhibited actions such as promoting insulin secretion and inhibiting α-glucosidase activity. Cell and organoid experiments validated the beneficial effects of Z300 on insulin and GLP-1 secretion. Mechanistic studies indicated that Z300 influenced the expression of various metabolism-sensing-related proteins such as p-AMPK, p-AKT, and p-GSK3β, highlighting its broad therapeutic applications.
Conclusion: This research emphasizes the potential of Saccharum sinense Roxb. polysaccharides, particularly Z300, as a promising herbal medicine for diabetes management. These results support the efficacy of Z300 in improving various aspects of glucose metabolism and insulin regulation, offering a valuable avenue for further exploration and development of novel antidiabetic therapies.
C. Xie: None. Y. Liu: None.
