Escins-Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, and IIIa, bioactive triterpene oligoglycosides from the seeds of Aesculus hippocastanum L.: their inhibitory effects on ethanol absorption and hypoglycemic activity on glucose tolerance test.

Five triterpene oligoglycosides named escins-Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, and IIIa were isolated from the seeds of Aesculus hippocastanum L. and their chemical structures were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Escins-Ia, Ib, IIa, and IIb were found to exhibit inhibitory effect on ethanol absorption and hypoglycemic activity on oral glucose tolerance test in rats. Among them, escins-IIa and IIb showed the higher activities for both bioassays, while desacylescins-I and II had no activity.