[Hypoglycemic activity of polysaccharide fraction from rhizome of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao and the effect on carbohydrate metabolism in normal mouse liver]

Yakugaku Zasshi. 1992 Jun;112(6):393-400. doi: 10.1248/yakushi1947.112.6_393.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

The ethanol precipitate fraction (RG-WP) obtained from the hot water extract from rhizome of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao is mainly composed of pectin-like polysaccharide, and exhibited hypoglycemic activity in normal and streptozotocin-induced mice by intraperitoneal administration of the fraction. The results obtained after chemical modification and proteinase treatments of RG-WP suggest that the activity exists in the polysaccharide moiety. Furthermore, the effect of RG-WP on the activities of enzymes responsible for the glucose metabolism in the liver of normal mouse was studied to elucidate the mechanism of the hypoglycemic activity. Administration of RG-WP to normal mice significantly increased the activities of hepatic glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase, but decreased those of hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphofructokinase. RG-WP stimulated the secretion of insulin and reduced the glycogen content in the liver of normal mouse.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / therapeutic use
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Insulin / blood
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Liver Glycogen / analysis
  • Mice
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Polysaccharides / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Liver Glycogen
  • Polysaccharides