Progress of anti-diabetes mechanism of polysaccharide contents in natural medicines

Anti-diabetes was one of the important actions of polysaccharide contents in natural medicines. In this paper,the anti-diabetic mechanisms of polysaccharides contents in natural medicines in nearly 10 years were summarized from four main areas following that Protect pancreatic islet βcells or promote their regeneration by functions of antioxidant and scavenging free radicals or inhibiting apoptosis of islet beta-cell; Slow down the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine; improve lipid metabolism disorders and lipotoxicity ; Improve insulin resistance by increasing the numbers and/or affinities of insulin receptors, increasing the sensitivity of insulin signal transduction pathway in peripheral insulin target tissues、promoting the utilization and metabolism of glucose,and regulating the secretary volume of adipokines secreted by the adipose tissue. Four anti-diabetic mechanisms summarized above were useful to study anti-diabetic mechanisms of polysaccharides contents in natural medicine further ,and were in order to provide a theoretical basis and laid the foundation for developing low toxicity and efficient type of new medicines.