Studies on Securigera securidacea (L.) Deg. et Dörfl. (Fabaceae) seeds, an antidiabetic Egyptian folk medicine.

A new cardenolide(-)-14-methoxy-rcanoside (1) was isolated from the aqueous extract of the seeds of Securigera securidacea (L.) Deg. et Dörfl. (Fabaceae) together with five new dihydrobenzofuran derivatives named securigran I-V (2-6). Kaempferol and astragalin were also isolated from the aqueous extract of the flowers. (-)-14-Methoxyhyrcanoside and the total aqueous extract of the seeds showed marked chronotropic activity. The total aqueous extract also showed a marked diuretic and severe hypokalemic effects on the K(+)-level in serum. The hypoglycemic effect of the seeds was also confirmed.