Antidiabetic and haematoprotective effects of an aqueous extract of Tremella fuciformis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Authors

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by persistent hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress, body-weight loss, and haematological dysfunction. This study investigated the antidiabetic and haematoprotective potential of a polysaccharide-rich aqueous extract of Tremella fuciformis (AETF) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic BALB/c mice. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at a dose of 60 mg/kg bw, followed by oral administration of AETF at 50 and 100 mg per kilogram body weight for 28 days. Fasting blood glucose, body weight, and haematological parameters were evaluated across normal healthy control, diabetic control, and AETF-treated groups. STZ-induced diabetes resulted in marked hyperglycaemia, significant body-weight loss, reductions in RBC, Hb, HCT, and MCHC, and elevations in WBC, platelet count, MCV, and MCH, indicating substantial metabolic and haematological disturbances. AETF treatment significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels, attenuated diabetes-associated weight loss, and ameliorated haematological abnormalities in a dose-dependent manner. The observed benefits are consistent with previously reported biological activities of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides, including enhanced glucose utilisation, improved insulin responsiveness, attenuation of oxidative stress, and modulation of key metabolic pathways such as AMPK and PPAR-mediated signalling. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that polysaccharide-rich AETF exerts coordinated antidiabetic and haematoprotective effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, highlighting Tremella fuciformis as a promising functional dietary adjunct for mitigating metabolic and haematological complications associated with diabetes mellitus.

Keywords:  Antidiabetic, haematoprotective, hyperglycaemia, Streptozotocin, Tremella fuciformis, BALB/c mice

Keywords:

Antidiabetic, haematoprotective, hyperglycaemia, Streptozotocin, Tremella fuciformis

DOI

https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v16i3.7611

Author Biographies

Zahid Ahmad Wani , Department of Zoology, School of Applied Sciences, Shri Venkateshwara University, Gajraula Amroha, 244236, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Reserach Scholar, Department of Zoology, School of Applied Sciences, Shri Venkateshwara University, Gajraula Amroha, 244236, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Asvene Kumar Sharma, Department of Zoology, School of Applied Sciences, Shri Venkateshwara University, Gajraula Amroha, 244236, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, School of Applied Sciences, Shri Venkateshwara University, Gajraula Amroha, 244236, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Showkeen Muzamil , Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology,190006 Srinagar Kashmir (SKUAST-K), India.

Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology,190006 Srinagar Kashmir (SKUAST-K), India.

Rayees Ahmad Naik, Department of Zoology, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya Sagar, Madhya Pradesh India-470003

Rayess Ahmad Naik, Ph.D, Department of Zoology, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya Sagar, Madhya Pradesh India-470003

Yaqoob lone, Department of Zoology, Government College for Women, M.A.Road, Cluster University, Srinagar 190001, J&K, India.

Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Government College for Women, M.A.Road, Cluster University, Srinagar 190001, J&K, India.

References

1. Liu X, Luo D, Guan J, Chen J, Xu X. Mushroom polysaccharides with potential in anti-diabetes: Biological mechanisms, extraction, and future perspectives: A review. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2022 Dec 14;9:1087826. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.1087826

2. Rehman HU, Ullah K, Rasool A, Manzoor R, Yuan Y, Tareen AM, Kaleem I, Riaz N, Hameed S, Bashir S. Comparative impact of streptozotocin on altering normal glucose homeostasis in diabetic rats compared to normoglycemic rats.Scientific reports.2023 May 16;13(1):7921. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29445-8

3. Vitak T, Yurkiv B, Wasser S, Nevo E, Sybirna N. Effect of medicinal mushrooms on blood cells under conditions of diabetes mellitus. World journal of diabetes. 2017 May 15;8(5):187. https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v8.i5.187

4. Wani ZA, Sharma AK, Muzamil S, Mir MN, Malik IA, Naik RA, Malik SS, Badroo IA, Hurra AR, Lone Y. Molecular pathways of oxidative stress in diabetes: redox imbalance and insulin pathway dysregulation. Molecular Biology Reports. 2026 Dec;53(1):222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-025-11389-z

5. Mir MN, Malik IA, Naik RA, Singh S, Hurra AR, Wani ZA, Shah R, Lone Y. Diabetic nephropathy: Pathophysiology and potential therapeutic role of plant extracts. Endocrine and Metabolic Science. 2025 Jul 22:100263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.endmts.2025.100263

6. Ebrahim H, Fiseha T, Ebrahim Y, Bisetegn H. Comparison of hematological parameters between type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and healthy controls at Dessie comprehensive specialized hospital, Northeast Ethiopia: Comparative cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2022 Jul 27;17(7):e0272145. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272145

7. Williams A, Bissinger R, Shamaa H, Patel S, Bourne L, Artunc F, Qadri SM. Pathophysiology of red blood cell dysfunction in diabetes and its complications. Pathophysiology. 2023 Aug 2;30(3):327-45.https://doi.org/10.3390/pathophysiology30030026

8. Arkew M, Yemane T, Mengistu Y, Gemechu K, Tesfaye G. Hematological parameters of type 2 diabetic adult patients at Debre Berhan Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study. PloS one. 2021 Jun 14;16(6):e0253286. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253286

9. Biadgo B, Melku M, Abebe SM, Abebe M. Haematological indices and their correlation with fasting blood glucose level and anthropometric measurements in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity: targets and therapy. 2016 Mar 17:91-9. https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S97563

10. Furman BL. Streptozotocin‐induced diabetic models in mice and rats. Current protocols in pharmacology. 2015 Sep;70(1):5-47. https://doi.org/10.1002/0471141755.ph0547s70

11. Oliyaei N, Moosavi‐Nasab M, Tamaddon AM, Tanideh N. Antidiabetic effect of fucoxanthin extracted from Sargassum angustifolium on streptozotocin‐nicotinamide‐induced type 2 diabetic mice. Food Science & Nutrition. 2021 Jul;9(7):3521-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.2301

12. Dinić S, Arambašić Jovanović J, Uskoković A, Mihailović M, Grdović N, Tolić A, Rajić J, Đorđević M, Vidaković M. Oxidative stress-mediated beta cell death and dysfunction as a target for diabetes management. Frontiers in endocrinology. 2022 Sep 23;13:1006376. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.1006376

13. Lee YS, Lee D, Park G, Ko S, Park J, Lee YK, et al. Lactobacillus plantarum HAC01 ameliorates type 2 diabetes in high-fat diet- and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice via gut microbiota modulation. Food Funct. 2021;12(7):3227–3241. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1FO00698C

14. Friedman M. Mushroom polysaccharides: chemistry and antiobesity, antidiabetes, anticancer, and antibiotic properties in cells, rodents, and humans. Foods. 2016 Nov 29;5(4):80. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods5040080

15. Shen T, Duan C, Chen B, Li M, Ruan Y, Xu D, Shi D, Yu D, Li J, Wang C. Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide suppresses hydrogen peroxide-triggered injury of human skin fibroblasts via upregulation of SIRT1. Molecular Medicine Reports. 2017 Feb;16(2):1340-6. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.6754

16. Ruan Y, Li H, Pu L, Shen T, Jin Z. Tremella fuciformis Polysaccharides Attenuate Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Macrophages through miR‐155. Analytical cellular pathology. 2018;2018(1):5762371. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5762371

17. Chen B. Optimization of extraction of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides and its antioxidant and antitumour activities in vitro. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2010 Jun 11;81(2):420-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2010.02.039

18. Sun ZW, Zhang LX, Zhang B, Niu TG. Structural characterisation and antioxidant properties of polysaccharides from the fruiting bodies of Russula virescens. Food Chemistry. 2010 Feb 1;118(3):675-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.05.036

19. Li S, Zhao K, Li J, Li X, Zhao H, Cui R, Li J, Guo J, Bian X. Recent advances in polysaccharides from Tremella fuciformis: isolation, structures, bioactivities and application. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025 Nov 19;12:1663327. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1663327

20. Raj GM, Priyadarshini R. Ethical issues in animal research. Introduction to Basics of Pharmacology and Toxicology: Volume 3: Experimental Pharmacology: Research Methodology and Biostatistics 2022 Nov 16 (pp. 649-684). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5343-9_49

21.Zangeneh, M.M., Zangeneh, A., Bahrami, E., Almasi, M., Amiri-Paryan, A., Tahvilian, R. and Moradi, R., 2018. Evaluation of hematoprotective and hepatoprotective properties of aqueous extract of Ceterach officinarum DC against streptozotocin-induced hepatic injury in male mice. Comparative Clinical Pathology, 27(6), pp.1427-1436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-018-2754-x

22. Hagh-Nazari L, Goodarzi N, Zangeneh MM, Zangeneh A, Tahvilian R, Moradi R. Stereological study of kidney in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice treated with ethanolic extract of Stevia rebaudiana (bitter fraction). Comparative Clinical Pathology. 2017 Mar;26(2):455-63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-016-2398-7

23. Ventura-Sobrevilla J, Boone-Villa VD, Aguilar CN, Román-Ramos R, Vega-Avila E, Campos-Sepúlveda E, Alarcón-Aguilar F. Effect of varying dose and administration of streptozotocin on blood sugar in male CD1 mice. InProc West Pharmacol Soc 2011 Jan 1 (Vol. 54, No. 5, p. 9).

24. Tangvarasittichai S. Oxidative stress, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus. World journal of diabetes. 2015 Apr 15;6(3):456. https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v6.i3.456

25.Bach EE, Costa SG, Oliveira HA, Junior JA, da Silva KM, de Marco RM, Hi EM, Wadt NS. Use of polysaccharide extracted from Tremella fuciformis berk for control diabetes induced in rats. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture. 2015 Jul 1;27(7):585.doi: 10.9755/ejfa.2015.05.307

26. Xu X, Liu X, Liu L, Chen J, Guan J, Luo D. Metagenomic and transcriptomic profiling of the hypoglycemic and hypotriglyceridemic actions of Tremella fuciformis-derived polysaccharides in high-fat-diet-and streptozotocin-treated mice. Food & Function. 2024;15(22):11096-114. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4FO01870B

27. Cho EJ, Hwang HJ, Kim SW, Oh JY, Baek YM, Choi JW, Bae SH, Yun JW. Hypoglycemic effects of exopolysaccharides produced by mycelial cultures of two different mushrooms Tremella fuciformis and Phellinus baumii in ob/ob mice. Applied microbiology and biotechnology. 2007 Jul;75(6):1257-65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-0972-2

28. Choi HJ, Yeon MH, Jun HS. Schisandrae chinensis Fructus Extract Ameliorates Muscle Atrophy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice by Downregulation of the CREB-KLF15 and Autophagy–Lysosomal Pathways. Cells. 2021 Sep 2;10(9):2283. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10092283

29. Aluganti Narasimhulu C, Singla DK. Amelioration of diabetes‐induced inflammation mediated pyroptosis, sarcopenia, and adverse muscle remodelling by bone morphogenetic protein‐7. Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle. 2021 Apr;12(2):403-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.12662

30. Zhang C, Wang Z, Luo L, Liu X, Jia Z, Zhang Y. Acetate Administration Ameliorates Streptozotocin‐Induced Hyperglycemia and Adipose Tissue Loss. The FASEB Journal. 2025 Jul 31;39(14):e70855. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202500776R

31. Shafiee F, Khoshvishkaie E, Davoodi A, Dashti Kalantar A, Bakhshi Jouybari H, Ataee R. The determination of blood glucose lowering and metabolic effects of Mespilus germanica L. hydroacetonic extract on streptozocin-induced diabetic Balb/c mice. Medicines. 2018 Jan 1;5(1):1. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines5010001

32. Singh VP, Bali A, Singh N, Jaggi AS. Advanced glycation end products and diabetic complications. Korean J Physiol Pharmacol. 2014;18(1):1–14. https://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2014.18.1.1

33. Samsu N. Diabetic nephropathy: challenges in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. BioMed Research International. 2021;2021(1):1497449. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1497449

34. Saba AB, Oyagbemi AA, Azeez OI. Amelioration of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and haemotoxicity by aqueous leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius in rats. Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences. 2010;25(2):139-47. https://doi.org/10.4314/njps.v25i2 .

35. Hajam YA, Rai S, Ghosh H, Basheer M. Combined administration of exogenous melatonin and insulin ameliorates streptozotocin induced toxic alteration on hematological parameters in diabetic male Wistar rats. Toxicology reports. 2020 Jan 1;7:353-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.01.020

36. Zhao H, Lai Q, Zhang J, Huang C, Jia L. Antioxidant and hypoglycemic effects of acidic‐extractable polysaccharides from Cordyceps militaris on type 2 diabetes mice. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2018;2018(1):9150807. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9150807

37. Song H, Lu J, Deng R. Polysaccharides from Tremella Fuciformis Enhance Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in HepG2 Cells Through Activating the AMPK Signalling Pathway. Chemistry & Biodiversity. 2025 Feb;22(2):e202401926. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202401926

38. Tu J, Adhikari B, Brennan MA, Luo S, Cheng P, Bai W, Brennan CS. Acidic polysaccharides from black ear and silver ear mushrooms modulated the release and transport of glucose from gelatinised sorghum starch during digestion. Food Chemistry. 2023 Jun 15;411:135426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135426

Published

2026-03-15
Statistics
Abstract Display: 152
PDF Downloads: 124
PDF Downloads: 31

How to Cite

1.
Wani ZA, Sharma AK, Muzamil S, Naik RA, lone Y. Antidiabetic and haematoprotective effects of an aqueous extract of Tremella fuciformis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. J. Drug Delivery Ther. [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 15 [cited 2026 Apr. 18];16(3):106-13. Available from: https://www.jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/7611

How to Cite

1.
Wani ZA, Sharma AK, Muzamil S, Naik RA, lone Y. Antidiabetic and haematoprotective effects of an aqueous extract of Tremella fuciformis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. J. Drug Delivery Ther. [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 15 [cited 2026 Apr. 18];16(3):106-13. Available from: https://www.jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/7611