Hypoglycemic effect of a hot-water extract from defatted sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seed on the blood glucose level in genetically diabetic KK-A(y) mice

Genetically diabetic (type II) KK-A(y) mice, male and 5 weeks of age, were divided into one group of 12 mice that were fed on a basal (BAS) diet and t hree groups of 6 mice each that were fed on the test diets for 4 weeks. Eac h test diet contained 4.0% of the hot-water extract (HES) from defatted ses ame (Sesamum indicum L.) seed, 1.4% of the water eluent fraction (WFH) of H ES or 0.7% of the methanol eluent fraction (MFH) of HES from a glass column packed with HP-20 resin. At the end of the feeding period, the BAS group w as divided into the MAL and MALH groups which were respectively force-fed w ith 1 ml per mouse of a 20% maltose solution in water with or without 4.0% HES. The plasma glucose concentration and amount of urinary excreted glucos e were lower from the HES and MFH diets than from the BAS and WFH diets. Th e levels of plasma glucose and serum insulin were lower in the MALH group t han in the MAL group. These results indicate that HES and MFH had a reducti ve effect on the plasma glucose concentration of KK-A(y) mice, and this eff ect is suggested to have been caused by the delayed glucose absorption.