A new synthetic hypoglycaemic polysaccharide.
The synthetic (1-->6)-alpha-D-glucopyranan with branching and without branching were tested as a new hypoglycaemic drug. (1-->6)-alpha-D-glucopyranan having an alpha-D-glucopyranosyl branch at the C-3 position (1) showed a remarkable hypoglycaemic activity on i.p. injection to mice. The polysaccharide having both alpha- and beta-glucopyranosyl branches (2) also lowered the blood sugar (glucose) level in mice. On the other hand, the synthetic linear (1-->6)-alpha-D-glucopyranan (3) and alpha-D-glucopyranosyl branched polysaccharide (4) did not have a hypoglycaemic function, indicating that the branching glucose units are essential for the biological activity.
Hatanaka
K
K
Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
Song
S C
SC
Maruyama
A
A
Kobayashi
A
A
Kuzuhara
H
H
Akaike
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood*; D005936:Glucans / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005936:Glucans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents