Antidiabetic principles of natural medicines. II. Aldose reductase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors from Brazilian natural medicine, the leaves of Myrcia multiflora DC. (Myrtaceae): structures of myrciacitrins I and II and myrciaphenones A and B

Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1998 Jan;46(1):113-9. doi: 10.1248/cpb.46.113.

Abstract

The methanolic extract and ethyl acetate-soluble portion from a Brazilian natural medicine, the leaves of Myrcia multiflora DC., which has been used as a specific medicine against diabetes, were found to show inhibitory activities on aldose reductase and alpha-glucosidase and on the increase of serum glucose level in sucrose-loaded rats and in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. From the ethyl acetate-soluble portion, new flavanone glucosides, myrciacitrins I and II, and new acetophenone glucosides, myrciaphenones A and B, were isolated together with several known compounds such as five flavonol glycosides, myricitrin, mearnsitrin, quercitrin, desmanthin-1, and guaijaverin. The structures of new compounds were determined on the basis of physicochemical and chemical evidence. The principal components of this natural medicine including new glucosides, myrciacitrin I and myrciaphenone B, were found to show potent inhibitory activities on aldose reductase and alpha-glucosidase.

MeSH terms

  • Acetophenones / isolation & purification
  • Acetophenones / pharmacology*
  • Aldehyde Reductase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Brazil
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / enzymology
  • Flavonoids / isolation & purification
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Glucosides / isolation & purification
  • Glucosides / pharmacology*
  • Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Medicine, Traditional*
  • Mice
  • Microvilli / drug effects
  • Microvilli / enzymology
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plants, Medicinal*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sucrose

Substances

  • Acetophenones
  • Blood Glucose
  • Flavonoids
  • Glucosides
  • Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Sucrose
  • Aldehyde Reductase