Crude polysaccharides extracted from several medicinal fungi exhibit hypoglycemic functions in mice.

The hypoglycemic effects of crude polysaccharides extracted from five medicinal fungi were evaluated using alloxan-induced diabetic mice.High(1 g/kg)and low(0.5 g/kg)doses of polysaccharides extracted from Cordyceps taii and C.memorabilis caused significant(P0.01)decreases in mice blood sugar levels.Polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum and C.militaris fruit bodies both exhibited weak hypoglycemic effects at significance levels of P0.01 and P0.05 for high and low doses,respectively.Polysaccharide extracted from mycelium of a Phellinus sp.was significantly(P0.05)hypoglycemic at higher dose levels but lower doses had no effect.