Abstract:

Objective: To explore the protective effect of polysaccharide from Ganoderma atrum on fasting blood glucose,
serum lipids and superior mesenteric arteries of type Ⅱ diabetic rats. Methods: An animal model of type-Ⅱ diabetes was developed
by feeding high fat diet/glucose to rats for a relative long period followed by an injection of low dose of STZ. The experimental rats
were randomly divided into six groups: non-diabetic control group, high fat diet/glucose treated diabetic group, non-treated diabetic
group, diabetic group treated with Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide (100 mg/(kg·d)), diabetic group treated with cyclosporine
A (CSA, 8 mg/(kg·d)) and diabetic group treated with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC, 100 mg/(kg·d)). Fasting blood glucose levels
and food and water intake amounts were measured once a week. At the end of the 4-week experimental period, serum TC, TG and
HDL-C levels and the histology of superior mesenteric arteries were assayed. Results: Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide exerted
noticeable hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects (P ＜ 0.05) in diabetic rats. Meanwhile, it could relieve symptoms including
polydipsia, polyphagia and protect against the injury of superior mesenteric arteries. All the above beneficial effects were better
than those of CSA and NAC. Conclusion: Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide may ameliorate arteriosclerotic narrowing of superior
mesenteric arteries via regulating the glucose and lipid metabolism in type Ⅱ diabetic rats.

Key words: Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide, type Ⅱ diabetes, superior mesenteric arteries, histology, diabetic cardiovascular disease