Rhaponticin is a stilbenoid glucoside compound. Its aglycone is called rhapontigenin. It can be found in rhubarb rhizomes. It has beneficial effects on diabetic mice, and in vitro results suggest it may be relevant to Alzheimer's disease with an action on beta amyloid. These compounds showed significant hypoglycemic effects in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic rats and mice. In this study, we investigated the effect of rhaponticin on glucose utilization, lipid metabolism, and liver and heart function in a KK/Ay type 2 diabetic mouse model. The results showed that oral administration of rhaponticin (125 mg/kg) significantly reduced blood glucose levels and improved oral glucose tolerance of KK/Ay diabetic mice. Elevated plasma triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol (CHO), non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA), and insulin levels were also markedly attenuated.
-S776.gif)