Effects of steroidal glycosides on blood glucose in normal and diabetic mice

Two steroidal glycosides, PO-1 and PO-2, were tested as a new hypoglycemic drug. PO-2 showed remarkable hypoglycemic activity on i.p. injection into normal mice. PO-1 slightly lowered the blood glucose in normal mice. Furthermore, PO-1 and PO-2 exhibited significant hypoglycemic effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. However, a steroid, diosgenin, did not affect the blood glucose level in either normal or streptozocin-induced diabetic mice, indicating that the branching glucose units are essential for the biological activity.