Anti-diabetic effect mediated by Ramulus mori polysaccharides.

Diabetes mellitus is a complicated metabolic disease, whose pathogenesis is related to apoptosis within pancreatic tissue. In this study, the potential therapeutic benefits of Ramulus mori polysaccharides (RMP) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were evaluated. Our experiments indicated that RMP lowered hyperglycemia and increased insulin levels in diabetic mice. Histopathological examination revealed that RMP contributed to the reduction of STZ-lesioned pancreatic cells. In addition, the serum level of HbA1c was decreased. RMP treatment also showed increased Bcl-2 expression and reduced Bax protein level in pancreatic tissue. Furthermore, intrapancreatic expressions of p-JNK, p-p38 and cleaved-caspase-3 were down-regulated by RMP treatment. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that RMP exerts the pronounced hypoglycemic effect via regulation of the intrapancreatic JNK/p38 pathway to protect against STZ-induced apoptosis in pancreatic tissue, eventually ameliorating metabolic function in the pancreas.