LOWERING EFFECT OF PHENOLIC GLYCOSIDES ON THE RISE IN POSTPRANDIAL GLUCOSE IN MICE

Glycosides were screened for their lowering effect on the postprandial blood glucose rise in vivo. The effect of phlorizin and other phenoli c glycosides on the postprandial blood glucose response to glucose ing estion was evaluated in Std ddY mice, When phlorizin was simultaneousl y added, the peak blood glucose level was significantly decreased by 5 1% (p < 0.01) compared to vehicles following glucose ingestion by mice , while the blood insulin responses were generally similar, Screening experiments were conducted with different classes of phenolic glycosid es added to a glucose solution, Reductions of 40-52% (p < 0.05) were o bserved in vehicles containing arbutin, 4-hydroxyphenyl-alpha-D-glucop yranoside (hydroquinone-alpha-glucoside) or glycyrrhizin, and of only 15-31% (not significant) in vehicles containing neohesperidin dihydroc halcone, glycyrrhetinic acid monoglucuronide, or 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-b eta-D-glucopyranoside. No lowering effect was observed in vehicles con taining salicin, Since glycyrrhizin, arbutin, and hydroquinone-a-gluco side blunted to varying degrees the postprandial blood glucose rise fo llowing glucose ingestion, they may be useful adjuvants for the treatm ent of diabetic subjects.