Burdock fructooligosaccharide as an α-glucosidase inhibitor and its antidiabetic effect on high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Burdock roots are rich in inulin-type burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO). However, the antidiabetic effect of BFO remains unknown. In this study, BFO was purified using DEAE-52 and G-75. The purity of BFO was 99.4%, the peak-average molecular weight (Mp) was 2958 Da. BFO inhibited alpha-glucosidase activity with an IC50 of 0.4996 mg/mL. Streptozotocin (STZ) and high-fat diet (HFD) induced diabetic mice were used to test the anti diabetic effect of BFO. BFO reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, relieved rapid weight loss, and improved glucose tolerance after six weeks of treatment. In addition, BFO reduced serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) levels, while increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. BFO also reduced islet, liver, and kidney damage. Based on these findings, BFO possesses potent antidiabetic effects on diabetic mice.