Objective: To investigate the effects of Eucommiae Cortex polysaccharide on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Method: Fifty SPF Kunming mice were intraperitoneally injected with 120 mg · kg-1 streptozotocin(STZ) after being fasted over 12 hours. After 3 days

the fasting blood glucose(FBG) of mice were measured to be ≥11.1 mol · L-1

indicating the successful modeling. The diabetic mice were randomly divided into 5 groups

with 10 mice per group: model group

metformin group (32 mg · kg-1)

and high

medium and low-dose Eucommiae Cortex polysaccharide groups (500

250

125 mg · kg-1). Another 10 healthy mice were considered as normal group. These mice were administrated intragastrically once a day for 14 days. Normal and model groups were given equal volume of saline. One hour after the last administration

the blood samples of 12-hour fasted mice were collected by drawing eyeballs and were centrifuged to separate serum for further measurement. The FBG were detected at the 14th day; the serum fasting insulin (FNS) was measured using radioimmunoassay and then the insulin sensitivity index(ISI) was calculated. Serum triglyceride(TG)

total cholesterol(TC)

high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterin(LDL-C) were analyzed using commercial kits. enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay(ELISA) method was utilized to detect TNF-α

IL-8 and interleukin-6(IL-6) levels. The protein levels of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) and nuclear transcriptional factor-κB(NF-κB) in pancreas tissues were analyzed by Western blot. Result: Compared with the normal group

the model group showed significant increases in FBG

lipid TG

TC

LDL-C

serum TNF-α

IL-8 and IL-6 contents

and protein expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB in pancreas

and significant decreases in HDL-C

FNS and ISI (P<0.01); Compared with the model group

Eucommiae Cortex polysaccharide groups showed significant decreases in FBG

lipid TG

TC

LDL-C

serum TNF-α

IL-8 and IL-6 contents

and protein expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB in pancreas

and significant increases in HDL-C

FNS and ISI (P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: The mechanism of Eucommiae Cortex polysaccharide on hypoglycemia and hypolipidemic may associate with improving antioxidant capacity

decreasing serum contents of inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting the expressions of TLR4

NF-κB proteins in diabetic mice.