PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Jian Luo AU - Jeanne Cheung AU - Eileen M. Yevich AU - John P. Clark AU - Joyce Tsai AU - Priscilla Lapresca AU - Rosa P. Ubillas AU - Diana M. Fort AU - Thomas J, Carlson AU - Richard F. Hector AU - Steven R. King AU - Christopher D. Mendez AU - S. D. Jolad AU - Gerald M. Reaven TI - Novel Terpenoid-Type Quinones Isolated from<em>Pycnanthus angolensis</em> of Potential Utility in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes DP - 1999 Feb 01 TA - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics PG - 529--534 VI - 288 IP - 2 4099 - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/288/2/529.short 4100 - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/288/2/529.full SO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1999 Feb 01; 288 AB - Using an ethnomedical-based drug discovery program, two previously unknown compounds (SP-18904 and SP-18905) from Pycnanthus angolensis were isolated that lower glucose concentrations in mouse models of type 2 diabetes. SP-18904 and SP-18905 are terpenoid-type quinones that significantly lowered plasma glucose concentration (p &lt; .05) when given orally to either ob/ob or db/db mice, both of which are hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic. The antihyperglycemic actions of SP-18904 and SP-18905 were associated with significant decreases in plasma insulin concentrations (p &lt; .05), suggesting that both compounds lowered glucose by enhancing insulin-mediated glucose uptake. This was supported by the insulin suppression test in ob/ob mice. Studies in hyperglycemic, insulin-deficient mice and in vitro experiments on 3T3-L1 adipocytes further supported this conclusion. As such, these two terpenoid-type quinones represent a new class of compounds of potential use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics