Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III in the streptozotocin-lnduced diabetic rat and their antioxidant activity in vitro.

Tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III from the flowers of Pueraria thunbergiana showed potent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Intraperitoneal administration of these two compounds with 5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively, for seven days to streptozotocin-induced rats significantly reduced the blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL- and VLDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels when compared with those of control group. Glycitein in which 5-OH is unlinked and tectoridin (7-O-glycoside of tectorigenin) isolated from the flowers of P. thunbergiana did not improve hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. In addition, tectorigenin showed in vitro antioxidant effects on 1,1diphenyl-2-pirylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, xanthine-xanthine oxidase superoxide anion radical, and lipid peroxidation in rat microsomes induced by enzymatic and non-enzymatic methods. We further found that tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III protected the Vero cell line (normal monkey kidney) from injury by hydrogen peroxide. From these findings, it seems likely that the antioxidant action of tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III may alleviate the streptozotocin-induced toxicity and contribute to hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects.