This extract (SLF3) caused hyperglycaemia when injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) into rabbits (20 mg/kg body wt) which was maximal at 0.5 h and took 2 h to return to the initial value. SLF3 also produced a two-fold increase in corticosteroid levels compared to controls, so the increase in blood glucose was probably mediated by adrenal cortical hormone stimulation.