[Hypoglycemic effect of extracts of cactus pear fruit polysaccharide in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the hypoglycemic effect and mechanism of the extracts of cactus pear fruit polysaccharide (CPFP) in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ).


METHODS
The diabetic rats were induced by STZ in SD rats, and randomly divided into model group, insulin group,cactus pear juice group, high dose CPFP group,low dose CPFP group. The experimental rats were administrated for 8 weeks. During the experiment, the contents of blood glucose and blood limit of the rats were detected and body weight were recorded. The pathology of beta cell and alpha cell in pancreas of experimental rats were observed by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Compared with model group, the contents of blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride were remarkably decreased in high and low dose CPFP groups. At the same time the body weight was significantly increased in high dose and low dose CPFP groups. The results of immunohistochemical stain demonstrated that the number of islet beta cells was increased and that of islet alpha cells was unchanged in the treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
CPFP can markedly decrease blood glucose and blood limit in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Its mechanism may be related to stimulating the secretion of insulin from beta cells.
Liu
Hua-gang
HG
Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China. hgliu@263.net
Liang
Qiu-yun
QY
Meng
Hua-lin
HL
Huang
Hui-xue
HX
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D029421:Cactaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014280:Triglycerides; D013311:Streptozocin; D002784:Cholesterol