Antidiabetic activity of the rhizoma of Anemarrhena asphodeloides and active components, mangiferin and its glucoside

The antidiabetic activity of the rhizoma of Anemarrhena asphodeloides was i nvestigated in KK-Ay mice, an animal model of genetic type 2 diabetes. The water extract of the rhizoma (AA) (90 mg/kg) reduced blood glucose levels f rom 570 +/- 29 to 401 +/- 59 mg/dl 7 h after oral administration (p <0.05) and also tended to reduce serum insulin levels in KK-Ay mice. AA-treated KK -Ay mice had significantly reduced blood glucose levels in an insulin toler ance test. Based on these results, the antidiabetic mechanism of AA may be due to decreased insulin resistance. In addition, the active components of AA were confirmed to be mangiferin and its glucoside.