Structural characterization of a homopolysaccharide with hypoglycemic activity from the roots of Pueraria lobata

Food Funct. 2020 Aug 1;11(8):7104-7114. doi: 10.1039/d0fo01234c. Epub 2020 Aug 3.

Abstract

A water-soluble neutral homopolysaccharide (PLP-1) was obtained from the roots of Pueraria lobata by DEAE cellulose and Sephadex G-200 gel chromatography purification. The average molecular weight of PLP-1 was 16.2 kDa. Monosaccharide composition analysis showed that PLP-1 was composed of glucose as a glucan. The structure of PLP-1 was characterized on the basis of extensive physical and chemical analysis, which indicated that the backbone of PLP-1 was mainly composed of →3)-α-d-Glcp(1→ and →4)-β-d-Glcp(1→ with a molar ratio of 7.0 : 1.0. Moreover, the hypoglycemic activity of PLP-1 was investigated by palmitic acid and high glucose induced insulin resistant HepG2 cells. The results elucidated that PLP-1 could decrease the glucose concentration by up-regulating the expression of PI3K and AKT, and down-regulating the expression of FoxO1, PCK2, and G6Pase in insulin resistant cells. Therefore, PLP-1 could serve as a dietary supplement to ameliorate insulin resistance for diabetic patients.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Glucans / chemistry
  • Glucose / analysis
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology
  • Monosaccharides / analysis
  • Plant Roots / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Pueraria / chemistry*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Glucans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Monosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Glucose