Structural features and hypoglycemic activity of a polysaccharide (CS-F10) from the cultured mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis

Biol Pharm Bull. 1999 Sep;22(9):966-70. doi: 10.1248/bpb.22.966.

Abstract

A polysaccharide (CS-F10) purified from a hot water extract of the cultured mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis was composed of galactose, glucose and mannose in a molar ratio of 43:33:24; its molecular weight was estimated to be about 15000. The results of chemical and spectroscopic investigations suggest that CS-F10 has a comb-type structure, and has alpha-D-glucopyranosyl residues on the terminal of the side-chains and characteristic sugar residues of C. sinensis i.e., 1,5-linked beta-D-galactofuranosyl residues. CS-F10 significantly lowered the plasma glucose level in normal, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic and epinephrine-induced hyperglycemic mice after intraperitoneal administration (50 mg/kg). Administration of CS-F10 to STZ-induced diabetic mice significantly increased the activity of hepatic glucokinase. A significant reduction in the hepatic glucose output was observed following the infusion of CS-F10 using the perfused rat liver. CS-F10 also significantly decreased protein content of facilitative glucose transporter isoform 2 (GLUT2) from rat liver following i.p. administration. These effects presumably contribute to the hypoglycemic activity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Culture Media / chemistry
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / enzymology
  • Glucokinase / metabolism
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucose Transporter Type 2
  • Hypocreales / chemistry*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Polysaccharides / therapeutic use*
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Streptozocin

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Glucose Transporter Type 2
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Polysaccharides
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Streptozocin
  • Glucokinase
  • Glucose