Abstract
The non-dialyzable portion of the water extract of the Oriental crude drug “karokon”,
the roots of Trichosanthes kirilowii, was found to reduce the plasma glucose level in mice. Activity-guided fractionation
of this non-dialyzable portion led to the isolation of five glycans termed as trichosans
A, B, C, D and E, showing hypoglycemic actions in normal mice. The main glycan, trichosan
A, also exhibited activity in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice.
2 Deceased, December 8, 1988
