Isolation and Hypoglycemic Activity of Coixans A, B and C, Glycans of Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen Seeds¹

Abstract

A water extract of the Oriental crude drug “yokui-nin” (coix seeds), Coix lachryma-jobi var, ma-yuen seeds, disclosed a marked hypoglycemic action when administered to mice. Fractionation of the extract, by monitoring the pharmacological activity, led to isolation of three glycans, coixans A, B and C. These components elicited remarkable hypoglycemic effects in normal and hyperglycemic mice treated with alloxan.