title: Antihyperglycemic and insulin-releasing effects of beta-sitosterol 3-beta-D-glucoside and its aglycone, beta-sitosterol.
abstract: The effect of beta-sitosterol 3-beta-glucoside (antihyperglycemic principle isolated from the aerial part of Centaurea seridis L. var. maritima Lge.) and its aglycone on plasma insulin and glucose levels in normo- and hyperglycemic rats was investigated. The results indicate that oral treatment with the glycoside or with the beta-sitosterol increased the fasting plasma insulin levels. There was a corresponding decrease in fasting glycemia when beta-sitosterol was administered orally. In addition, these compounds improved the oral glucose tolerance test with an increase in glucose-induced insulin secretion. But when these products were administered orally, the effect of glycoside, either on fasting insulinemia or on glucose-induced insulin secretion, lasted longer than that of aglycone. The present study compared these effects with those of glibenclamide. It can be assumed that beta-sitosterol 3-beta-D-glucoside acts by increasing circulating insulin levels, and that this effect is due to their aglycone: beta-sitosterol.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia y Farmacotecnia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universitat de Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ivorra
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: D'Ocon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D012855:Sitosterols; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D005947:Glucose; C011015:lyoniside