Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hypoglycemic effects of exopolysaccharides produced by mycelial cultures of two different mushrooms Tremella fuciformis and Phellinus baumii in ob/ob mice

  • Biotechnological Products and Process Engineering
  • Published:
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The anti-diabetic activities of the exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by submerged mycelial culture of two different mushrooms, Tremella fuciformis and Phellinus baumii, in ob/ob mice were investigated. All the animals were randomly divided into three groups with seven animals in each group: The control group received 0.9% NaCl solution; the diabetic groups were treated with EPS from T. fuciformis (Tf EPS) and P. baumii (Pb EPS) at the level of 200 mg/kg body weight using an oral zoned daily for 52 days. The plasma glucose levels in the EPS-fed mice were substantially reduced by about 52% (Tf EPS) and 32% (Pb EPS), respectively, as compared to control mice. The results of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) revealed that both EPS-fed groups significantly increased the glucose disposal after 52 days of EPS treatments. Furthermore, higher food efficiency ratios and reduced blood triglyceride levels were observed in the EPS-treated groups. Because peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) is indeed a key regulator of insulin action, we investigated the expression pattern of adipose tissue PPAR-γ messenger RNA (mRNA) and plasma levels of PPAR-γ. It was revealed that PPAR-γ was significantly activated in response to EPS treatments. The results suggested that both EPS exhibited considerable hypoglycemic effect and improved insulin sensitivity possibly through regulating PPAR-γ-mediated lipid metabolism. Our results indicated that two mushroom-derived EPS might be developed as potential oral hypoglycemic agents or functional foods for the management of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Attele AS, Zhou YP, Xie JT, Wu JA, Zhang L, Dey L (2002) Antidiabetic effects of Panax ginseng berry extract and the identification of an effective component. Diabetes 51:1851–1858

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bae JT, Sinha J, Park JP, Song CH, Yun JW (2000) Optimization of submerged culture conditions for exo-biopolymer production by Paecilomyces japonica. J Microbiol Biotechnol 10:482–487

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bae JT, Park JP, Song CH, Yu CB, Park MK, Yun JW (2001) Effect of carbonsource on the mycelial growth and exo-biopolymer production by submerged culture of Paecilomyces japonica. J Biosci Bioeng 91:522–524

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey CJ, Turner RC (1996) Metformin. N Engl J Med 334:574–579

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Z, Pang T, Gu M, Gao AH, Xie CM, Li JY, Nan FJ, Li J (2006) Berberine-stimulated glucose uptake in L6 myotubes involves both AMPK and p38 MAPK. Biochim Biophys Acta 1760:1682–1689

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cho EJ, Oh JY, Chang HY, Yun JW (2006) Production of exopolysaccharides by submerged mycelial culture of Tremella fuciformis. J Biotechnol 127:129–140

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giugliano D, De Rosa N, Di Maro G, Marfella R, Acampora R, Buoninconti R, D’Onofrio F (1993) Metformin improves glucose, lipid metabolism, and reduces blood pressure in hypertensive, obese women. Diabetes Care 16:1387–1390

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heine RJ (1999) Diabetes in the next century: challenges and opportunities. Neth J Med 55:265–270

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holman RR, Turner RC (1991) Oral agents and insulin in the treatment of NIDDM. In: Pickup J, Williams G (eds) Text book of diabetes. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 467–469

    Google Scholar 

  • Hwang HJ, Kim SW, Xu CP, Choi JW, Yun JW (2003) Production and molecular characteristics of four groups of exopolysaccharides from submerged culture of Phellinus gilvus. J Appl Microbiol 94:708–719

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang HJ, Kim SW, Lim JM, Joo JH, Kim HO, Kim HM, Yun JW (2005) Hypoglycemic effect of crude exopolysaccharides produced by a medicinal mushroom Phellinus baumii in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Life Sci 76:3069–3080

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiho T, Tsujimura Y, Sakushima M, Usui S, Ukai S (1994) Polysaccharides in fungi: XXXIII. Hypoglycemic activity of an acidic polysaccharide (AC) from Tremella fuciformis. Yakugaku Zasshi 114:308–315

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiho T, Morimoto H, Sakushima M, Usui S, Ukai S (1995) Polysaccharides in fungi: XXXV. Anti-diabetic activity of an acidic polysaccharide from the fruiting bodies of Tremella aurantia. Biol Pharm Bull 18:1627–1629

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiho T, Yamane A, Hui J, Usui S, Ukai S (1996) Polysaccharide in fungi, XXXVI. Hypoglycemic activity of a polysaccharide (CS-F30) from the cultural mycelium Cordyceps sinensis and its effect on glucose metabolism in mouse liver. Biol Pharm Bull 19:294–296

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiho T, Kobayashi T, Morimoto H, Usui S, Ukai S, Hirano K, Aizawa K, Inakuma T (2000a) Structural features of an anti-diabetic polysaccharide (TAP) from Tremella aurantia. Chem Pharm Bull 48:1793–1795

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kiho T, Morimoto H, Kobayashi T, Usui S, Ukai S, Aizawa K, Inakuma T (2000b) Effect of a polysaccharide (TAP) from the fruiting bodies of Tremella aurantia on glucose metabolism in mouse liver. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 64:417–419

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiho T, Kochi M, Usui S, Hirano K, Aizawa K, Inakuma T (2001) Antidiabetic effect of an acidic polysaccharide (TAP) from Tremella aurantia and its degradation product (TAP-H). Biol Pharm Bull 24:1400–1403

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SW, Hwang HJ, Park JP, Cho YJ, Song CH, Yun JW (2002a) Mycelial growth and exo-biopolymer production by submerged culture of various edible mushrooms under different media. Lett Appl Microbiol 34:56–61

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SW, Hwang HJ, Xu CP, Na YS, Song SK, Yun JW (2002b) Influence of nutritional conditions on the mycelial growth and exo-biopolymer production in Paecilomyces sinclairii. Lett Appl Microbiol 34:389–393

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SW, Hwang HJ, Xu CP, Sung JM, Choi JW, Yun JW (2003) Optimization of submerged culture process for the production of mycelial biomass and exo-polysaccharides by Cordyceps militaris C738. J Appl Microbiol 94:120–126

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SH, Hyun SH, Choung SY (2006) Anti-diabetic effect of cinnamon extract on blood glucose in db/db mice. J Ethnopharmacol 104:119–123

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koh JH, Kim JM, Chang UJ, Suh HJ (2003) Hypocholesterolemic effect of hot-water extract from mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis. Biol Pharm Bull 26:84–87

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landin K, Tengborn L, Smith U (1991) Treating insulin resistance in hypertension with metformin reduces both blood pressure and metabolic risk factors. J Intern Med 229:181–187

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee MK, Miles PD, Khoursheed M, Gao KM, Moossa AR, Olefsky JM (1994) Metabolic effects of troglitazone on fructose-induced insulin resistance in the rat. Diabetes 43:1435–1439

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee CH, Chawla A, Urbiztondo N, Liao D, Boisvert WA, Evans RM, Curtiss LK (2003) Transcriptional repression of atherogenic inflammation: modulation by PPAR delta. Science 302:453–457

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lo HC, Tsai FA, Wasser SP, Yang JG, Huang BM (2006) Effects of ingested fruiting bodies, submerged culture biomass, and acidic polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan of Tremella mesenterica Retz.: Fr. on glycemic responses in normal and diabetic rats. Life Sci 78:1957–1966

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mlinar B, Marc J, Janez A, Pfeifer M (2007) Molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance and associated diseases. Clin Chim Acta 375:20–35

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura T, Matsugo S, Uzuka Y, Matsuo S, Kawagishi H (2004) Fractionation and anti-tumor activity of the mycelia of liquid-cultured Phellinus linteus. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 68:868–872

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olefsky JM, Saltiel AR (2000) PPAR gamma and the treatment of insulin resistance. Trends Endocrinol Metab 11:362–368

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park KS, Ciaraldi TP, Lindgren K, Abrams-Carter L, Mudaliar S, Nikoulina SE, Tufari SR, Veerkamp JH, Vidal-Puig A, Henry RR (1998) Troglitazone effects on gene expression in human skeletal muscle of type II diabetes involve up-regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 83:2830–2835

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park JP, Kim SW, Hwang HJ, Yun JW (2001) Optimization of submerged culture conditions for the mycelial growth and exo-biopolymer production by Cordyceps militaris. Lett Appl Microbiol 33:76–81

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park MY, Lee KS, Sung MK (2005) Effects of dietary mulberry, Korean red ginseng, and banaba on glucose homeostasis in relation to PPAR-α, PPAR-γ, and LPL mRNA expressions. Life Sci 77:3344–3354

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peter P, Nuttall SL, Kendall MJ (2003) Insulin resistance—the new goal. J Clin Pharm Ther 28:167–174

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rees DA, Alcolado JC (2005) Animal models of diabetes mellitus. Diabet Med 22:359–370

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shafrir E (1992) Animal models of non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Diabetes Metab Rev 8:179–208

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sakakibara S, Yamauchi T, Oshima Y, Tsukamoto Y, Kadowaki T (2006) Acetic acid activates hepatic AMPK and reduces hyperglycemia in diabetic KK-A(y) mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 344:597–604

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sood V, Colleran K, Burge MR (2000) Thiazolidinediones: a comparative review of approved uses. Diabetes Technol Ther 2:429–440

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tontonoz P, Hu E, Spiegelman BM (1994) Stimulation of adipogenesis in fibroblasts by PPAR-γ a lipid-activated transcription factor. Cell 79:1147–1156

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verma S, Bhanot S, McNeill JH (1994) Antihypertensive effects of metformin in fructose-fed hyperinsulinemic, hypertensive rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 271:1334–1337

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vuksan V, Jenkins DJ, Spadafora P, Sievenpiper JL, Owen R, Vidgen E, Brighenti F, Josse R, Leiter LA, Bruce-Thompson C (1999) Konjac-mannan (glucomannan) improves glycemia and other associated risk factors for coronary heart disease in type 2 diabetes. A randomized controlled metabolic trial. Diabetes Care 22:913–919

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xie JT, Aung HH, Wu JA, Attele AS, Yuan CS (2002a) Effects of American ginseng berry extract on blood glucose levels in ob/ob mice. Am J Chin Med 30:187–194

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xie JT, Zhou YP, Dey L, Attele AS, Wu JA, Gu M (2002b) Ginseng berry reduces blood glucose and body weight in db/db mice. Phytomedicine 9:254–258

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang BK, Kim DH, Jeong SC, Das S, Choi YS, Shin JS, Lee SC, Song CH (2002) Hypoglycemic effect of a Lentinus edodes exo-polymer produced from a submerged mycelial culture. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 66:937–942

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yuen VG, Vera E, Battell ML, Li WM, McNeill JH (1999) Acute and chronic oral administration of bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV) in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 43:9–19

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This study was supported by the Technology Development Program for Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Republic of Korea (grant no. 105079-03-1-SB010). C.E.J., H.J.H., S.W.K., and Y.M.B. were supported by a scholarship of the second stage of the Brain Korea 21 Project. Eun Jae Cho and Hye Jin Hwang contributed equally to this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Daegu University, Kyungsan, Kyungbuk, 712-714, Republic of Korea

    Eun Jae Cho, Hye Jin Hwang, Sang Woo Kim, Jung Young Oh, Yu Mi Baek & Jong Won Yun

  2. Department of Bioindustry, Daegu University, Kyungsan, Kyungbuk, 712-714, Republic of Korea

    Jang Won Choi

  3. Department of Food and Biotechnology, Hankyong National University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea

    Song Hwan Bae

Authors
  1. Eun Jae Cho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hye Jin Hwang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sang Woo Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jung Young Oh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yu Mi Baek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jang Won Choi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Song Hwan Bae
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jong Won Yun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jong Won Yun.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cho, E.J., Hwang, H.J., Kim, S.W. et al. Hypoglycemic effects of exopolysaccharides produced by mycelial cultures of two different mushrooms Tremella fuciformis and Phellinus baumii in ob/ob mice. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 75, 1257–1265 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-0972-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-0972-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation