Hypoglycemic properties of polysaccharides extracted from ganoderma lucidum in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

A recent randomized and double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study bas indicated that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) decrease blood glucose in patients with type Ⅱ diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the GLP extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of GLP at 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg for 4 weeks resulted in a reduction of blood glucose levels by 12.5, 18.7 and 33.7% respectively, while glibenclamide treatment brought the hyperglycemic value down to normal.