The impact of a novel peach gum-derived polysaccharide on postprandial blood glucose control in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Peach [Prunus persica (L.)] gum exudates are produced by the trunks and fruits in peach gummosis. Clinically, these exudates have been used to treat diabetes in China, though the molecular mechanism underlying remains unclear. In the current study, a novel peach gum-derived polysaccharide was isolated, designated as PGPSD, and its anti-diabetic effect was assessed in mice. This polysaccharide was composed of arabinose, xylose and galactose in the molar ratio of 5.98:1:3.55, with the average molecular weight at 1.00 × 106 Da. The animal study demonstrated that the PGPSD polysaccharide significantly lowered the postprandial blood glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Histology and immunohistochemistry results further confirmed that the application of PGPSD polysaccharide partially restored the pancreatic islets in diabetic mice, and enhanced the expression of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1, insulin and hexokinase1. Collectively, the data suggested that the peach gum-derived polysaccharide had a meaningful potential as a non-insulin therapeutic compound in the treatment of diabetes.