Effects of Phellinus vaninii Ljup Polysaccharide on the Diabetes Induced by Streptozotocin and Cigarette Smoking in Maternal Rats and Their Offspring

Abstract

This research was carried out to determine the influences of cigarette smoking and the hypoglycemic effects of Phellinus vaninii Ljup polysaccharide (PS) on STZ (streptozotocin)-induced severe hyperglycemia maternal rats, as well as the postnatal development of their offspring. The polysaccharide was administered orally and the cigarette smoke (CS) exposure was performed daily for four weeks. The food efficiency ratio, food intake, body weight gain, organ weights, and blood glucose level were tested for the maternal rats, and the body weight and glucose tolerance tests were evaluated for their offspring. It was found that cigarette smoke exposure did not worsen hyperglycemia in maternal rats. In comparison with the control group, P. vaninii Ljup polysaccharide could obviously lower the blood glucose levels and increase the food efficiency ratio of maternal rats, and can help prevent disorders in offspring. In addition, in comparison with the CS exposure group, the polysaccharide also exhibited protective effects that decreased the blood glucose levels and enhanced the food efficiency ratio of maternal rats, which also reduced the blood glucose levels in their offspring at 32 weeks of age. These results suggested that P. vaninii Ljup polysaccharide could be potentially used to treat hyperglycemia in diabetic patients.