Novel hypoglycemic effects of Ganoderma lucidum water-extract in obese/diabetic (+db/+db) mice

Phytomedicine. 2009 May;16(5):426-36. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2008.10.004. Epub 2008 Dec 23.

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the pharmacological effects of Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) (water-extract) (0.003, 0.03 and 0.3g/kg, 4-week oral gavage) consumption using the lean (+db/+m) and the obese/diabetic (+db/+db) mice. Different physiological parameters (plasma glucose and insulin levels, lipoproteins-cholesterol levels, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG CoA reductase) and isolated aorta relaxation of both species were measured and compared. G. lucidum (0.03 and 0.3g/kg) lowered the serum glucose level in +db/+db mice after the first week of treatment whereas a reduction was observed in +db/+m mice only fed with 0.3g/kg of G. lucidum at the fourth week. A higher hepatic PEPCK gene expression was found in +db/+db mice. G. lucidum (0.03 and 0.3g/kg) markedly reduced the PEPCK expression in +db/+db mice whereas the expression of PEPCK was attenuated in +db/+m mice (0.3g/kg G. lucidum). HMG CoA reductase protein expression (in both hepatic and extra-hepatic organs) and the serum insulin level were not altered by G. lucidum. These data demonstrate that G. lucidum consumption can provide beneficial effects in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by lowering the serum glucose levels through the suppression of the hepatic PEPCK gene expression.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Fat / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Energy Intake / drug effects
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / metabolism
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Insulin / blood
  • Lipolysis / drug effects
  • Lipoproteins / blood
  • Mice
  • Obesity / drug therapy
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Reishi*
  • Vasodilation / drug effects

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Lipoproteins
  • Plant Extracts
  • Cholesterol
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases
  • phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase kinase
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases