Abstract
An acidic polysaccharide (TAP) was isolated from a hot-water extract of the fruiting bodies of Tremella aurantia. It showed remarkable hypoglycemic activity in normal mice and two diabetic mouse models, streptozotocininduced diabetes and genetic diabetes, following intraperitoneal administration. Continuous oral administration of TAP solution (0.5 g/l) for a long period was found to be also effective in hyperglycemia in glucose-loaded mice and no harmful physical effects were found. TAP had an [α]D-7° in water, and its molecular weight was estimated to be about 1500000. TAP is composed of mannose, xylose, glucuronic acid and glucose (molar ratio, 4 : 2 : 1 : 0.3), and it contains 2.2% of O-acetyl groups.
