Background: Floccularia luteovirens (Alb. & Schwein.) Pouzar,
is an extremely rare edible and medicinal mushroom in China. The crude
polysaccharides of F. luteovirens (FLPs) has significant antioxidant and
anti-inflammation activities and exerts excellent protective functions in diabetic
nephropathy (DN) complications, but the material basis of the pharmacological
effects of FLPs and the molecular mechanism of its pharmacological action are
still unclear. Methods: First, we performed systemic composition
analysis on extracted and isolated FLPs. Next, the spontaneous db/db mouse DN
model was used to investigate the mitigation and protection functions of FLPs in
DN and the underlying mechanism through the mammalian target of the rapamycin
(mTOR)/GSK-3/NRF-2 pathway. Results: FLPs contained 65.0%
total sugars, 7.2% reducing sugars, 7.93% proteins, 0.36% total flavonoids, 17
amino acids, 13 fatty acids, and 8 minerals. After intragastric administration of
FLPs with concentrations of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg for 8 weeks, FLPs inhibited
excessive weight gain, relieved the symptoms of obesity, and significantly
improved glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism in the db/db mice. In addition,
FLPs were also involved in regulating the indicators of various oxidases and
inflammatory factors in the serum and kidney of db/db mice. Conclusions:
FLPs effectively improved and relieved kidney tissue injury caused by high
glucose, targeted and regulated phospho-GSK-3, and suppressed
inflammatory factor accumulation. Furthermore, FLPs activated the nuclear factor
erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase 1 (NRF2/HO-1) pathway and enhanced
the activity of catalase (CAT) to further play a role in relieving and treating
T2DM and nephropathy complications.