Hypoglycemic Activity of Glycyrrhizic Acid and Some of its Derivatives in the Alloxan Diabetes Model in Rats

The hypoglycemic activity of glycyrrhizic acid (GA, I), its trisodium (II) and sodium-dilithium salts (III), and a conjugate with L-methionine methyl ester (IV) was studied using an alloxan diabetes model after peroral administration to male Wistar rats. It was found that GA and its conjugate IV at a dose of 100 mg/kg exhibited hypoglycemic activity and reduced the blood glucose content of the animals by 35.5 and 42.6%, respectively, after 120 min. GA conjugate IV had low toxicity and hypoglycemic activity superior to those of GA and acarbose.