Isolation and hypoglycemic activity of trichosans A, B, C, D, and E: glycans of Trichosanthes kirilowii roots.

The non-dialyzable portion of the water extract of the Oriental crude drug «karokon», the roots of Trichosantes kirilowii, was found to reduce the plasma glucose level in mice. Activity-guided fractionation of this non-dialyzable portion led to the isolation of five glycans termed as trichosans A, B, C, D and E, showing hypoglycemic actions in normal mice. The main glycan, trichosan A, also exhibited activity in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice