Abstract
Phellinus linteus has long been known as a traditional medicinal mushroom in China and has been drawing renewed attention because of its bioactive components. A hot water extract (PLE) was prepared from cultured Phellinus linteus mycelium, and its anti-diabetic effect was examined in vitro and in viva. PLE effectively inhibited the activities of α-glucosidase from both yeast and rat small intestine. Administration of PLE at a single oral dose lowered the mean plasma glucose level 30min after sucrose loading in normal rats (p<0.05) and 60min after sucrose loading in streptozotocin diabetic rats (p<0.05). These results suggest that intake of PLE prevents the rise in the plasma glucose level and therefore may be useful for prevention of diabetes.
