Polysaccharides and polysaccharide complexes as potential sources of antidiabetic compounds: A review

Diabetes mellitus is a kind of common metabolic disease that causes severe life health problems. It attracts worldwide concerns, but there is no total cure method for it till now. Many natural products including polysaccharides have been studied for the treatment of diabetes. This review conducts a literature search of recent years to obtain the relevant information of antidiabetic polysaccharides and polysaccharide complexes from animals, plants, algae, fungi, and bacterial, which have showed antidiabetic properties. Recent progress in the structure–activity relationship of various natural polysaccharides that possessed antihyperglycemic effects is discussed. Antidiabetic properties of the polysaccharides and the complexes are mediated mainly through the following mechanisms: (1) improving cell dysfunction, (2) inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, and (3) targeting signaling pathways on enhancing insulin action and improving glucose metabolism. And it prospects the challenges in this research field. This review will develop a better understanding of the polysaccharides antihyperglycemic effects. It is useful for designing more effective agents for the management of diabetic diseases.