Combination of mulberry leaf and oat bran possessed greater hypoglycemic effect on diabetic mice than mulberry leaf or oat bran alone

The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of mulberry leaf and oat bran on type 2 diabetes. Co-treatment of diabetic mice with mulberry leaf and oat bran for 28 days led to lower glucose level and better glucose tolerance capacity than either mulberry leaf or oat bran treatment. It was found that this combination resulted in more significant inhibitory effects on alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities. Meanwhile, the enhancement on insulin receptor and glucokinase expressions and down-regulation on pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex kinase expressions were also observed. Additionally, the combination increased the gut microbiota diversity, and reshaped the gut microbiota structure. Based on the above data, it is more feasible to affirm that the combined supplementation of mulberry leaf and oat bran is a potential adjuvant on the treatment of diabetes mellitus.