Ischemic stroke (IS) caused by cerebral arterial occlusion is the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Cellular oxidative stress and inflammation play a vital role in the pathological process...

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Abelmoschus esculentus (AE), a commonly consumed vegetable, is well-known for its anti-hyperglycemic effects. However, few scientific reports have identified its targets because mucilage increases the difficulty of manipulation. We recently reported extraction steps to obtain subfractions of AE, which were found to attenuate the adverse effects of high glucose and fatty acid in vitro. In this study, we used modified extraction steps and type 2 diabetic rats to explore whether AE subfractions can improve the metabolic disturbances caused by insulin resistance in vivo. AE subfractions (F1, F2, and FR) were prepared. The type 2 diabetes model was induced by feeding male Sprague-Dawley rats with a high-fat diet and injecting them with 35 mg/kgbw streptozotocin when their body weight reached 475 ± 15 g. After a hyperglycemic status had been confirmed, the rats were tube-fed with or without different doses of AE subfractions. Serum glucose, lipid markers, insulin, HbA1c and HOMA-IR were measured in the following 12 weeks. Serum glucose promptly increased and insulin resistance was noted in the diabetic rats (glucose: 360–500 mg/dl, HOMA-IR 9.8–13.8). F2, rich in polysaccharides and carbohydrates, was most effective in attenuating hyperglycemia and insulin resistance (glucose: 200 mg/dl; HOMA-IR: 5.3) and especially HbA1C (from 8.0% to 6.5%). All of the AE subfractions lowered the level of triglycerides and free fatty acid, but not the level of total cholesterol. FR significantly increased the high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein ratio, indicating its benefits for lipoprotein profiles. While F2 and FR were associated with weight gain, F1 possessed an anti-obese effect. In conclusion, whether it is consumed as a vegetable or as a nutraceutical, AE has the potential to be an adjuvant therapy for diabetes. AE subfractions could be developed individually and deserve further investigation.

The current study was aimed to explore the beneficial effects of polysaccharides isolated from Laminaria japonica (LP) on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) mice. The obtained results demonstrated that the LP improved serum biochemical index, body weight index, and glucose tolerance. Furthermore, the evidence also suggested that the beneficial effects of LP might be attributed to the alternation in gut microbiota by LP supplementation. Particularly, the Turicibacter, a short‐chain fatty acids‐producing bacterium, was found to be up‐regulated. In conclusion, the obtained results indicated that the LP might serve as prebiotic, and might have a great potential to be used as food supplementation for GDM patients.