Objective: To investigate the hypoglycemic activity of the extracts from the powder of Hericium erinaceus. Method: Type 2 diabetic mellitus(DM) model was induced by both administration of high lipid food for four weeks and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (170 mg·kg-1). The hypoglycemic effective parts were selected by measuring fasting blood glucose after 21 days of intragastric administration. The oral glucose tolerance test was carried out to define the hypoglycemic activity of the extracts. The effects on pathological changes of hepatic tissue

kidney and pancreatic tissue were observed with Hematoxylin and Eosin staining(HE)under light microscope. Result: The polysaccharides from the powder of H. erinaceus showed the ability of resisting DM induced weight-loss. Compared with control group

the fasting blood glucose of the DM mice which were administrated with the polysaccharides from the powder of H. erinaceus decreased significantly(P<0.01)at 14th and 21st day. Polysaccharides of high-dose group (400 mg·kg-1) could improve glucose tolerance in DM mice and resist the DM induced pathological changes of hepatic tissue

kidney

and pancreatic tissue. Conclusion: The polysaccharides from the powder of H. erinaceus can reduce the blood sugar of DM mice

improve the glucose tolerance of DM mice and protect the viscera of DM mice with dose-effect relationship.