Hypoglycemic activity-guided fractionation led to the isolation of five known xanthones
and two triterpenoids from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of Swertia japonica and their identification was based on spectroscopic methods. One of the triterpenes,
thysano-lactone, was first isolated from this plant. Among the xanthones, bellidifolin
showed a potent and dose-dependent hypoglycemic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats
both in i.p. and p.o. administration. A comparative hypoglycemic activity of the other three xanthones
together with bellidifolin was also studied.
Swertia japonica
- Gentianaceae - xanthones - bellidifolin - hypoglycemic activity - STZ-induced diabetes
