HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECT OF TRANS-DEHYDROCROTONIN, A NOR-CLERODANE DITERPENE FROM CROTON CAJUCARA

trans-Dehydrocrotonin (t-DCTN), a 19-nor-clerodane diterpene isolated from the bark of Croton cajucara Benth. (Euphorbiaceae) demonstrated a significant hypoglycemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats bu t not in normal rats, at oral doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight. Th e drug also effectively lowered the blood sugar levels in glucose fed normal rats. The hypoglycemic effect of t-DCTN was almost comparable t o that produced by glibenclamide (2 mg/kg), a clinically useful drug. The results indicate the antihyperglycemic potential of t-DCTN.