Abstract: AIM: To determine the effects of asiatic acid, a novel glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor, on glucose consumption in HepG2 cell and on blood glucose and hepatic glycogen in mice,and study the hypoglycemic mechanism.METHODS: Mice were given intragastrically either vehicle or asiatic acid for 7 days.The model of hyperglycemia in mice was induced by subcutaneous injection of Adrenaline; the fasting plasma glucose and hepatic glycogen of mice were measured.RESULTS: The elevation of blood glucose level caused by Adrenaline was antagonized by asiatic acid significantly. Asiatic acid also increased the hepatic glycogen content in adrenaline-induced hyperglycemia mice.Furthermore,Asiatic acid showed significant effect on glucose consumption in HepG2 cells, and its IC₅₀ of inhibiting glycogen phosphorylase was 12.1 μmol/L in vivo.CONCLUSION: Asiatic acid presents anti-diabetic effect, the mechanism is probably concerned with inhibiting excessive hepatic glycogen degradation.

Key words: Asiatic acid, Glycogen phosphorylase, Adrenaline, Hepatic glycogen, Hypoglycemic effect