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Involvement of the PI3K/Akt signal pathway in the hypoglycemic effects of tea polysaccharides on diabetic mice

Shuqin Li1, Haixia Chen1, Jia Wang1

  • 1Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|September 28, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Tea polysaccharides (TPS) effectively lowered blood glucose and improved lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice. TPS also alleviated insulin resistance and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting its potential as a functional food for diabetes management.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global health concern characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance.
  • Current treatments for T2DM have limitations, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic agents.
  • Tea polysaccharides (TPS) are natural compounds with potential health benefits, including hypoglycemic effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypoglycemic effects of tea polysaccharides (TPS) in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of TPS action, including its impact on insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress.
  • To evaluate the potential of TPS as a functional food or therapeutic agent for T2DM.

Main Methods:

  • Establishment of a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mouse model.
  • Administration of tea polysaccharides (TPS) to diabetic mice.
  • Assessment of body weight, blood glucose levels, lipid profiles (TC, LDL-c, TG, HDL-c), insulin resistance, and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPX).
  • Analysis of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and GLUT4 expression.

Main Results:

  • TPS treatment led to increased body weight and decreased blood glucose levels in T2DM mice.
  • Significant reductions in total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) were observed, with triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels nearing normalization.
  • TPS demonstrated insulin resistance alleviation and cytoprotective effects, notably improving superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities in liver and kidney tissues.
  • Upregulation of PI3Kp85/p-Akt/GLUT4 expression indicated the involvement of the PI3K/Akt pathway in TPS's hypoglycemic mechanism.

Conclusions:

  • Tea polysaccharides (TPS) exhibit significant hypoglycemic effects and improve metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
  • TPS ameliorates insulin resistance and oxidative stress, potentially through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
  • TPS shows promise as a functional food or therapeutic candidate for managing T2DM.
Keywords:
Hypoglycemic effectsMechanismPI3K/Akt signal pathwayTea polysaccharides

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