Abstract
To investigate the relationship between the intestinal bacterial metabolism of kalopanaxsaponin B and H from Kalopanix pictus (Araliaceae), and their antidiabetic effect, kalopanaxsaponin B and H were metabolized by human interstinal microfiora and the antidiabetic activity of their metabolites was measured. Human intestinal microflora metabolized kalopanaxsaponin B to kalopanaxaponin A, hederagenin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside and hedaragenin. The main metabolites of kalopanaxsaponin B were kalopanaxsaponin A and hederagenin. Kalopanaxsaponin H was metabolized to kalopanaxsaponin A and I, hederagenin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside and hederagenin. The main metabolites of kalopanaxsaponin H were kalopanaxsaponin I and hederagenin. Among kalopanaxsaponin B, H and their metabolites, kalopanaxsaponin A showed the most potent antidiabetic activity, followed by hederagenin. However, the main components, kalopanaxsaponin B and H, in K. pictus were inactive.
