Clinical potentials of ginseng polysaccharide for treating gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common glucose metabolism complication or cause of potential impaired glucose tolerance that can occur either before or during pregnancy and lactation. The prevalence of GDM and its related complications in young women is increasing, and this condition may cause serious outcomes and health hazards to the foetus. However, traditional oral hypoglycaemic drugs have potential safety hazards; therefore, it is urgent to develop new, safe, effective, and easily administered agents and remedies. Ginseng polysaccharide (GPS), which is isolated from Panax (P.) ginseng C. A. Meyer, exhibits notably promising biological activities and effects; specifically, it has been shown to lower blood glucose with mild, safe, and nontoxic characteristics, and it can also improve human bodily functions. Hence, we hypothesise that GPS might be used as an additional therapy and candidate agent for treating GDM. This review innovatively summarizes the available reports and evidence from basic studies to analyze the potential for and feasibility of using GPS as a new therapeutic agent for treating GDM. Additionally, for the first time, this review provides a rationale for the use of GPS. Our summarized results show that GPS may be developed as a novel antidiabetic drug and a remedy for use in preventing and treating GDM, with great application prospects.