In vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of soluble dietary fiber Konjac glucomannan in type-2 diabetic rats

Although the anti-diabetic properties of Konjac glucomannan (KGM) have been reported previously; however, the molecular pathways of its anti-diabetic properties are not clear. The present study hypothesized that KGM could mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation. Three doses of KGM (40, 80, 120 mg/kg b.w.) decreased the levels of plasma glucose and insulin in type-2 diabetic rats induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ) after administration for 28 days. Besides, the C-reactive protein, antioxidants, and the pathways of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) showed amelioration and positively regulation after treated with a medium dose of KGM (80 mg/kg b.w.). The results of the histological study indicated that the medium dose of KGM was able to reverse the structural impairment of kidney and liver caused by type-2 diabetes. In conclusion, our research demonstrated that KGM reduced the hyperglycemia, regulated the Nrf2 pathway and by which it prevented oxidative stress, besides, it reduced the inflammation via regulation of the NF-kB pathway.