Hypoglycemic effect of exo- and endo-biopolymers produced by submerged mycelial culture of Ganoderma lucidum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The hypoglycemic effect of an exo-biopolymer (EXO) and endo-biopolymer (ENDO) produced from submerged mycelial culture of Ganoderma lucidum was investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Both the EXO and ENDO showed hypoglycemic potential, however, the former proved to be more potent than the latter. The administration of the EXO at the dose of 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) significantly reduced the plasma glucose level (23.5%) and increased the plasma insulin level (2.2 fold) in the diabetic animals. The EXO also lowered the plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and athrogenic index by 14.7, 31.4, 24.1, and 45.4%, respectively, and reduced the liver total cholesterol and triglyceride levels by 6.7 and 25.8%, respectively. It increased the plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (37.7%), compared to the control group. Furthermore, the alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) showed lower activities in the EXO administered groups than the other experimental groups. Taken together, these results suggest that the exo-biopolymer may alleviate the blood glucose level by increased insulin secretion.