Transcriptomic insights into the antidiabetic effects of mulberry leaf Fu brick tea in GK rats

Mulberry leaves and Fu brick tea are renowned for their exceptional hypoglycemic effects. This study used mulberry leaves and fu brick tea as raw materials to develop mulberry leaf Fu brick tea (MFT) as a dietary regulator that can assist in the prevention and alleviation of diabetes. The results demonstrate that administration of MFT at a dose of 210 mg/kg/day for a consecutive 4-week period significantly reduces fasting and random blood glucose levels in GK rats. Notably, levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and glycosylated serum protein return to the normal range, while insulin and glucagon levels are significantly increased, accompanied by substantial improvement in glucose tolerance. Moreover, MFT proves effective in regulating dyslipidemia and reducing liver damage. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that MFT enhances insulin sensitivity and promotes glycogen synthesis by up-regulating key genes in the PI3K-Akt and PPAR signaling pathways, including Insr , Ins1 , Gys2 , Pi3k , Akt , and Pparα . These findings highlight MFT as a potential dietary intervention for glucose regulation, warranting further evaluation in clinical studies. • MFT maintains blood glucose homeostasis in diabetic rats. • MFT ameliorates diabetes-associated liver damage. • MFT activates PI3K-Akt and PPAR pathways to boost insulin sensitivity. • Proposes MFT as a novel dietary intervention for diabetes management.