Hypoglycemic Action of the Rhizomes of Polygonatum officinale in Normal and Diabetic Mice

Abstract

The hypoglycemic effect of the rhizomes of Polygonatum officinale (Liliaceae) was investigated in both normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The methanol extract of rhizomes of Polygonatum officinale (PO) (800 mg/kg) reduced the blood glucose of normal mice from 170 ± 3 to 136 ± 5 mg/100 ml 4 hours after intraperitoneal administration (P < 0.001), and also significantly lowered the blood glucose of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice from 696 ± 60 to 407 ± 35 mg/100ml under similar conditions (P < 0.01). PO also suppressed epinephrine-induced hyperglycemia in mice. In addition, the n-butanol fraction of the methanol extract elicited a significant decrease in the blood glucose level of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice after 4 hours (P < 0.05).

Key words

Hypoglycemic action - Polygonatum officinale - Liliaceae - oriental traditional medicine - streptozotocin - epinephrine - n-butanol fraction