Protective effect of sulfated Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides on streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress in rats

Sulfated Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharide (SAbP) is derived from traditional Chinese herbal medicine A. bidentata polysaccharide (AbP) by chemical modification. The present study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of SAbP against oxidative damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic rats. Results showed SAbP significantly reduced blood glucose level and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in diabetic rats. The activities of GPx and SOD were increased in diabetic rats. But the effects of AbP on blood glucose, MDA concentration and antioxidant enzymes activities are not obvious as SAbP. Therefore, we postulate that SAbP has a better protective effect in diabetes than AbP and this may be attributed to its antioxidative potential.