Metabolic Effects Of Dictyophora Indusiata Polysaccharides On STZ-induced Diabetic Mice

Mushrooms are currently being acknowledged as a crucial food source due to their role in human health,nutrition and disease treatment.They are a source of numerous physiologically bioactive compounds and thus are being utilized to treat metabolic diseases.The objective of this study was to evaluate the metabolic effects of crude polysaccharides extracted from Dictyophora indusiata in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice.This involved evaluation of blood glucose levels using a glucometer,TC,HDL,LDL,triglycerides and ALT levels using retrotron machine and evaluating body and organ weight,using an animal weighing scale.The levels of blood glucose,LDL,triglycerides were lowered significantly in diabetic mice fed on high crude polysaccharides as compared to the control(p<0.05).HDL and body weight levels were significantly increased in diabetic mice fed on high crude polysaccharides as compared the control(p<0.05).There was a decrease in kidney and liver weight in diabetic mice fed on high crude polysaccharides in comparison to the diabetic control(p<0.05).There was no difference in spleen weight(p>0.005)but an observable increase in pancreas weight(p<0.005).The reduction in blood glucose,LDL,triglycerides and ALT levels show that high crude polysaccharides have compounds which play a role in decreasing the activities of these parameters.Furthermore,the increased levels of HDL(good cholesterol)support the assertion that mushroom's protective capacity against heart attack,kidney and liver disease.The current study also supports the assertion that the high dose crude polysaccharides are essential in controlling weight loss as observed from the weight gain achieved.ALT is an important enzymatic marker that shows liver damage and the low ALT levels suggest high dose crude polysaccharides protect against streptozotocin induced inflammation of the liver.An increase in the pancreas weight is as a result of hepatocellular glycogen accumulation.The observed decrease in liver and kidney weight are due to reduction in plasma LDL and increased levels of HDL.The findings of the study suggest,ingestion of high dose crude polysaccharides have significant health benefits as they via the modulation of physiological functions such as hypoglycaemia and cholesterol lowering activities and so can be utilized as a prophylactic against metabolic disorders.