Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of an anti-diabetic polysaccharide extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum herb

This work aimed to determine the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of an anti-diabetic polysaccharide (GPP) extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum herb on diabetic mice. In vitro antioxidant assays showed that the DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion, and ABTS radical scavenging activities of GPP increased in a dose-dependent manner. Animal experiments demonstrated that GPP could efficiently reduce the body weight and fasting blood sugar of diabetic mice and decrease the blood parameters of ALP, ALT, AST, and BUN. Furthermore, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory results indicated that GPP might exert its hypoglycemic effect by enhancing the SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities, decreasing the MDA activity, improving the levels of the anti-inflammatory factors IL-4 and IL-10, and decreasing the levels of the pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6. This work provided a good basis for further revealing the prevention and treatment mechanisms of diabetes.