The root bark of Sarcopoterium spinosum Spach = Poterium spinosuin L. (Rosaceae) is used to treat diabetes mellitus in the traditional medicine of the eastern Mediterranean region (1). In order to evaluate its pharmacological activity, experiments on hyperglycemic mice were undertaken. Hyperglycemia was provoked by iv. injection with alloxan (65 mg/kg).Three isolated triterpenes were tested: substances I (23-hydroxytormentic acid ester glucoside) and 2 (23-hydroxytormentic acid) have been isolated from the root bark of Sarcopoterium spinosum and also from the root bark and the aerial parts of Sanguisorba minor Scop. (Rosaceae) (2). Substance A (3-O-L-arabinopyranusylpomolic acid ester glucoside) (3) has been isolated from the root bark and the aerial parts of Sanguisorba of.ficinalis L., but was absent in Sarcopoteriwn and Sanguisorba minor. The pharmacological results are summarized in Figs. 1-3. Statistical significance is marked.The tannins of the root bark of Sarcopoterium spinosum were investigated concerning the proanthocyanidins in 1987 (4). For the pharmacological test three different tannin extracts were prepared: a fraction consisting of only polymers as well as a fraction of di-, tn-, and oligomer proanthocyanidins and (+)-catechin have not shown any activity. The fraction 5-6, however, a combination of tannins and triterpenes (ca. 95: 5), lowered the blood sugar level statistically significant in a concentration of 300mg/kg (Fig. 4). Experimental conditions:Experimental animals: groups of 6-10 male mice (Stamm CBA/IR Zg) weighting 26 3 g. Glycemia was measured by the glucoseoxidase method with o-toluidine (5). Only mice with a blood sugar level 300 mg/dl were used for the test. The triterpenes and tannins dissolved in a little DMSO were applied per os as aqueous solutions. 15, 45, and 75 mm after application the glucose level was measured. Control mice were given DMSO-H20 mixtures.250mg/kg 50mg/kg Fig. 1 Hypoglycemic activity of substance 1. Fig. 2 Hypoglycemic activity of substance 2. 0 15 75 TIMELmInI 180mg/kg 30mg/kg LII] 5mg/kg 0 15 45 75 TIMEImInI Downloaded by: NYU. Copyrighted material.

The medicinal plants, Coutarea latiflora Sesse & Moc. ex. DC. (Hintonia latiflora Bullock) (Rubiaceae) and Exostema caribaeum (Jacq.) Roem. et Schult. (Rubiaceae) were examined for antimalarial properties. Among different crude solvent extracts of the stem bark, the hydrolysed ethyl acetate extracts were shown to have the most potent in vitro antimalarial activity. One compound isolated from the ether extract from Exostema caribaeum showed only moderate activity.

No abstract