ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY PRESENT IN THE FRUIT BODY OF GRIFOLA-FRONDOSA (MAITAKE) .1.

The fruit body of Grifola frondosa (maitake), Basidiomycetes was confi rmed to contain substances with antidiabetic activity. When 1 g/d of p owdered fruit body of maitake was given orally to a genetically diabet ic mouse (KK-A(y)), blood glucose reduction was observed, in contrast to the control group in which the blood glucose increased with ageing. Moreover, levels of insulin and triglyceride in plasma demonstrated a change similar to blood glucose with feeding of maitake. Ether-ethano l-soluble (ES) and hot water-soluble (WS) fractions were prepared from the fruit body and their hypoglycemic activity was examined. Blood gl ucose-lowering activity was found when ES-fraction or WS-50% ethanol f loat (X) fraction was administered orally, but other WS-fractions were inactive. These results suggest that the anti-diabetic activity was p resent not only in the ES-fraction consisting of lipid but also in the X-fraction of peptidoglycan (sugar:protein=65:35).