Hypolipidaemic and hypoglycaemic activities of polysaccharide from Pleurotus eryngii in Kunming mice.

Therapeutic drugs must be developed to treat hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia, which are major risk factors for developing coronary artery diseases and atherosclerosis. Pleurotus eryngii is a well-known food resource with functional properties in China. In this study, P. eryngii polysaccharide (PEP) was extracted with hot water, and its hypolipidaemic and hypoglycaemic activities were investigated. KKAy mice were divided into control and PEP groups, which were fed with high fat and PEP+high fat, respectively, for 6 weeks. Oral administration of PEP decreased body weight gain, the levels of plasma insulin, serum triglyceride, cholesterol low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blasting blood glucose in mice. Moreover, PEP diet increased the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and liver glycogen. Results indicate that PEP exhibited hypolipidaemic and hypoglycaemic activities and could be explored as possible therapeutic agents for hyperlipidaemia and hyperglycaemia.