Structural analysis and antidiabetic activity study of three acidic-type polysaccharides from Crepis crocea (Lam.) Babc.

In this article, we analyzed the structures of three acidic hetero-chain polysaccharides (CTP3-B, CTP3-C, and CTP3-D) fractionated from the herb Crepis crocea (Lam.) Babc. by a combination of ethanol precipitation, dialysis and gel permeation chromatography. Three polysaccharides were all highly branched polysaccharide. KK-Ay mice were chosen to determine the hypoglycemic effect of CTP3. The anti-diabetic activity of CTP3 was explored in detail from the aspects of body weight, daily dietary intake, blood glucose level and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). It was found that the body weight and daily food intake of the high dose group were significantly decreased compared with the diabetic control group. In addition, there was significant decrease in the levels of blood glucose in the middle and high dose group. These results suggest that CTP3 had a regulative role in blood glucose level. CTP3 may be useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.