Phytother Res. 2002 Feb; 16(1): 55-8.

Triterpenes from Agarista mexicana as potential antidiabetic agents.

Perez G RM, Vargas S R.

Laboratorio de Investigacion de Productos Naturales, Escuela Superior de IngenierÃa QuÃmica e Industrias Extractivas IPN, Punto Fijo 16, Col. Torres Lindavista C.P. 07708, MÃ©xico D.F. MÃ©xico. dmex@df1.telmex.net.mx

Hypoglycaemic activity-guided fractionation together with chemical analysis led to the isolation of 12-ursene and a novel triterpene 23,24 dimethyl-24-ethyl-stigmast-25-ene from the chloroform extract of the dried stem of A. mexicana. Identification was based on spectroscopic methods. The isolated triterpenes were tested for hypoglycaemic activity in normal and alloxman-diabetic CD1 mice 25-30 g at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. The blood glucose levels were determined before and 1.5, 3, 4.5 and 24 h after intraperitoneal drug administration. The results showed that the triterpenes produced a significant hypoglycaemic effect in normal as well as in diabetic mice. Comparison was made between the action of the triterpenes and a known hypoglycaemic drug, tolbutamide (50 mg/kg). The 12-ursene was found to be slow and less effective than tolbutamide, and the 23,24 dimethyl-24-ethyl-stigmast-25-ene was shown to be more effective than tolbutamide.Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.