Protective effect of selenium-polysaccharides from the mycelia of Coprinus comatus on alloxan-induced oxidative stress in mice

We investigated the effect of selenium-polysaccharide (SPS) isolated from selenium-enriched mycelia of Coprinus comatus on hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities in diabetic mice. Compared with untreated diabetic mice, the administration of SPS for 20 days caused a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in blood glucose levels. Simultaneously, the alteration in lipid metabolism was partially attenuated as evidenced by decreased serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels and by increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) concentration in diabetic mice (p < 0.05). In addition, the SPS caused a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the activities of enzymic antioxidants and the levels of non-enzymic antioxidants in liver and kidney of diabetic mice. Furthermore, the effects of SPS was more potent than that of polysaccharide (PS) from mycelia of C. comatus at the same dose. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.