Abstract
Poria cocos, Bai Fu Ling in Chinese, is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetes. However, its claimed benefits and mechanism are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect and action of P. cocos on type 2 diabetes. We first performed phytochemical analysis on the crude extract and factions of P. cocos. P. cocos crude extract at 50 mg/kg body weight or more significantly decreased blood glucose levels in db/db mice. Based on a bioactivity-directed fractionation and isolation (BDFI) strategy, chloroform fraction and subfractions 4 and 6 of the P. cocos crude extract possessed a blood glucose-lowering effect. Dehydrotumulosic acid, dehydrotrametenolic acid, and pachymic acid were identified from the chloroform sub-fractions 4, 3, and 2, respectively. Dehydrotumulosic acid had anti-hyperglycemic effect to a greater extent than dehydrotrametenolic acid and pachymic acid. Mechanistic study on streptozocin- (STZ-) treated mice showed that the crude extract, dehydrotumulosic acid, dehydrotrametenolic acid, and pachymic acid of P. cocos exhibited different levels of insulin sensitizer activity. However, the P. cocos crude extract and triterpenes appeared not to activate PPAR-γ pathway. Overall, the data suggest that the P. cocos extract and its triterpenes reduce postprandial blood glucose levels in db/db mice via enhanced insulin sensitivity irrespective of PPAR-γ.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus is a life-threatening chronic metabolic disease which currently afflicts 3% of the world population
Mechanistic study on streptozocin- (STZ-) treated mice showed that the crude extract, dehydrotumulosic acid, dehydrotrametenolic acid, and pachymic acid of P. cocos exhibited different levels of insulin sensitizer activity
One important method of treating patients with type 2 diabetes is to control blood glucose levels, which can be achieved by an increase of insulin release or insulin action, a decrease of intestinal glucose uptake (α-glucosidase inhibitors), and so forth [5]
Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a life-threatening chronic metabolic disease which currently afflicts 3% of the world population. Over 90% of diabetic populations are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes [1, 2]. Diabetes is caused by a defect in insulin production, insulin action, or both [3]. The defect impairs glucose homeostasis in diabetic patients, resulting in hyperglycemia, a hallmark of diabetes [4]. One important method of treating patients with type 2 diabetes is to control blood glucose levels, which can be achieved by an increase of insulin release (insulin releasers) or insulin action (insulin sensitizers), a decrease of intestinal glucose uptake (α-glucosidase inhibitors), and so forth [5]. Few clinical drugs are available for diabetes, and those that are available usually have adverse side effects such as decreased efficacy over time and low cost-effectiveness [6,7,8]. Research and development of novel drugs for diabetes have been in great demand
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
