Feruloylated oligosaccharides from maize bran alleviate the symptoms of diabetes in streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats

This study investigated the therapeutic effect of feruloylated oligosaccharides (FOs) extracted from maize bran on type 2 diabetic rats and its potential mechanism. Streptozotocin (STZ) induced type 2 diabetic male rats were orally administered with different levels of FOs for 8 weeks, and ferulic acid (FA) treatment was conducted as the positive control. Among all the treatments, the oral administration of 600 mg per kg bw per d FOs showed the best therapeutic effects on the diabetic rats by significantly lowering the levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin, TG, LDL-c, aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in plasma, while increasing the level of plasma HDL-c. In addition, the intake of FOs at 600 mg per kg bw per d exhibited the best antioxidant effects in the plasma, liver, kidney and heart of the diabetic rats, and the highest inhibitory effects on the formation of AGEs and CML in the organs, which might explain the alleviating effects of FOs on abdominal aorta injury observed in the current study. FOs presented better regulation effects on FPG, plasma lipid and the protection of abdominal aorta than FA under the same administered dosage. Based on these outcomes, FOs from maize bran could be beneficial for prevention or early treatment of diabetes mellitus.