Bajpai M B, Asthana R K, Sharma N K, Chatterjee S K, Mukherjee S K
Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
Planta Med. 1991 Apr;57(2):102-4. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-960041.
A xanthone was isolated from the hexane fraction of the Swertia chirayita plant and identified as 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone (swerchirin). It has a very significant blood sugar lowering effect in fasted, fed, glucose loaded, and tolbutamide pretreated albino rat models. The ED50 for 40% blood sugar lowering in CF male albino rats (body weight 140-165 g) is 23.1 mg/kg/oral. The possibility of its application in clinical therapy for diabetes mellitus needs exploration.
