HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECTS OF SHOKATSU-CHA (XIAO-KE-CA) IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES-MELLITUS

Shokatsu-cha is a novel formula for diabetic mellitus based on the tra ditional Chinese medicine and composed of Dioscoreae rhizoma, Adenopho rae radix, Rehmanniae radix, Anemarrhenae rhizoma, Platycodi radix, Sa lviae miltiorrhizae radix, Epimedii folium and Lycii fructus. The hypo glycaemic effect of Shokatsu-cha was evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic mice and rats, When orally administered once a day f or 10 days to the mice intraperitoneally injected with STZ, the Shokat su-cha extract suppressed the increase of the blood glucose level duri ng administration. In the in situ intestine circulation method, the Sh okatsu-cha extract and its ethanol-eluted fraction inhibited the gluco se absorption in STZ-induced diabetic rats, The ethanol-eluted fractio n also inhibited the increase of blood glucose level in an oral glucos e tolerance test using diabetic mice, This study indicates that a part of the hypoglycaemic effect of Shokatsu-cha is based on its inhibitor y action on intestinal glucose absorption in diabetes.