The Effect of Natural Polysaccharides in Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy: A Review

Abstract Diabetic nephropathy is a serious metabolic disease that is usually caused by diabetes mellitus and ends in chronic kidney disease and renal failure. Many drugs used to treat diabetic nephropathy have limitations and side effects. There is an urgent need to find safe and effective new drugs for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. The polysaccharides from natural sources, including plants, fungi, and algae, have good protective effects on diabetic nephropathy without side effects. In this paper, the natural sources, chemical composition, and structural characteristics of polysaccharides are reviewed. In addition, the study summarizes the different mechanisms that polysaccharides improve diabetic nephropathy, such as antioxidative stress, regulation of inflammation, inhibition of apoptosis, and renal fibrosis. This review provides theoretical support for the protective effect of polysaccharides and reveals potential therapeutic methods for diabetic nephropathy.