Antidiabetic activity of mycelia selenium-polysaccharide from Catathelasma ventricosum in STZ-induced diabetic mice

Se-polysaccharide from Catathelasma ventricosum (SPC-2) was purified by DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The average size of SPC-2 was 1.6 x 10(5) Da, and it was mainly composed of glucose (87.4%) with the conformation of beta-pyran ring. The branched structure of SPC-2 was proved intuitively by atomic force microscope (AFM). The antidiabetic potential of SPC-2 was tested in STZ-induced diabetic mice. After STZ-induced diabetic mice being administered of SPC-2 for 30 days, SPC-2 treatment significantly reduced the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) that were increased by the STZ treatment. Further, the SPC-2 treatment led to increased activity of antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidney and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) that were decreased by the STZ. The results of histopathology also showed SPC-2 protected tissues (pancreas, liver and kidney) against peroxidation damage and maintained tissue integrity. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.