Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) plumule polysaccharide ameliorates pancreatic islets loss and serum lipid profiles in non-obese diabetic mice

•A newly isolated lotus plumule polysaccharide (LPPS) was used for study.•LPPS was administered to NOD mice for 15 weeks.•LPPS markedly ameliorated pancreatic islets loss in NOD mice.•LPPS improved basal insulin secretion ability by pancreatic islets.•LPPS modulated serum lipid profiles in the diabetic mice.

To unravel possible protective effects of a newly isolated lotus plumule polysaccharide (LPPS) on type 1 diabetes (T1D), this study isolated LPPS and administered it to non-obese diabetic (NOD) female mice for 15 weeks. Oral glucose tolerance, serum ketone body, glucose, insulin, and lipid levels, as well as pancreatic islet cell numbers and the insulin secretion ability of the experimental mice were determined. The results showed that LPPS administration in vivo significantly (P < 0.05) increased pancreatic islet cell numbers and slightly enhanced the basal insulin secretion ability compared to the control group. LPPS administration improved serum lipid profiles in the diabetic mice via relatively increasing serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, but decreasing low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. The present study suggests that LPPS supplementation may ameliorate T1D progress and its complications through protecting pancreatic islets and modulating serum lipid profiles.

Graphical abstractLPPS administration effects on pancreatic islet cell numbers of the experimental mice through a 15-week feeding experiment. CO, control; PL, polysaccharide low dose (0.025% LPPS in AIN76 diet); PM, polysaccharide medium dose (0.125% LPPS in AIN76 diet); PH, polysaccharide high dose (0.3125% LPPS in AIN76 diet); PC, positive control (0.5g ursolic acid/kg AIN76 diet); SC, species control (ICR mice, AIN76 diet).Download full-size image