Hypoglycemic effects of a sesquiterpene glycoside isolated from leaves of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.)

Sesquiterpene glycoside, nerolidol-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranoside was isolated from dried leaves of loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl., Rosaceae]. Hypoglycemic effects of this natural product were assessed in normal and alloxan-diabetic mice model. Animals received orally administration of the sesquiterpene glycoside in dose of 25 and 75 mg/kg. The anti-hyperglycemic effect was compared with gliclazide's. The dose of 25 and 75 mg/kg both exerted a significant (p<0.05p<0.05) hypoglycemic effect in alloxan-diabetic mice throughout the test and a slight effect in normal mice.