SCREENING OF PLANT CONSTITUENTS FOR EFFECT ON GLUCOSE-TRANSPORT ACTIVITY IN EHRLICH ASCITES TUMOR-CELLS

The effect of plant extracts on D-glucose uptake by Ehrlich ascites tu mour cells was examined. Among the 23 exracts of medicinal plants, fiv e samples inhibited, and six samples activated, the uptake significant ly. From one of the active plants, Lagerstroemia speciosa, two triterp enoids, colosolic acid and maslinic acid were isolated. Colosolic acid was shown to be a glucose transport activator. Since this compound wa s known to have hypoglycemic activity, our simple in vitro bioassay me thod can at least be used as a first screening for anti-diabetic activ ity.