Bioactive constituents from chinese natural medicines. XXIV. Hypoglycemic effects of Sinocrassula indica in sugar-loaded rats and genetically diabetic KK-A(y) mice and structures of new acylated flavonol glycosides, sinocrassosides A(1), A(2), B(1), and B(2).

The methanolic extract from the whole plant of Sinocrassula indica (Crassulaceae) was found to inhibit the increase in serum glucose levels in oral administration of sucrose and glucose in rats at a dose of 250 mg/kg (p.o.). However, the extract did not inhibit the increase in serum glucose levels after intraperitoneal administration of glucose in these animals but did partly inhibit the gastric emptying. On the other hand, this extract significantly inhibited the increase in serum glucose levels after administration for 2 weeks in KK-A(y) mice, a genetically type II diabetic mice, at a dose of 250 mg/kg/d (p.o.) without significant changes of the weights of body, liver, and visceral fat. From the extract, four new acylated flavonol glycosides, sinocrassosides A(1), A(2), B(1), and B(2), were isolated together with 11 flavonoids and 2 megastigmanes. The absolute stereostructures of the four new compounds were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.