Abstract
The inhibitory activities of Amberlite active fraction, which was obtained from methanol soluble fraction of freeze dried slikworm urine, on the rat intestinal glycosidase-catalyzed enzymatic reaction were examined in in viro and in vivo experiments. Amberlite active fraction showed significant inhibitory effects on the hydrolysis of o-glycosidic bond, especially $\alpha$-1,4 bond. On the other hand, the inhibition on the hydrolysis of $\beta$-glycosidic bond was very weak. Oral administration of Amberlite active fraction resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the blood glucose after an oral maltose load, and postprandial hyperglycemia in carbohydrate-loaded mice was suppressed by Amberlite active fraction at 60 mgHg in decreasing order of maltose, starch, sucrose and lactose. 60 mg/kg of Amberlite active fraction lowered the blood glucose level markedly after 18, 35, and 60 min after an oral maltose load and the antihyperglycemic activity was maintained upto 90 min. In alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice, Amberlite active fraction at a dose of 100 mg/kg also significantly lowered blood glucose after an oral maltose load, and its efficacy was almost equivalent to that of acarbowe.