Coyolosa, a new hypoglycemic from Acrocomia mexicana

From the methanol extract of the Arocomia mexicana root a new tetrahydropyrane compound was isolated. Its skeletal structure and relative stereochemistry were established by spectral analysis. Substituent effects have been determined with the hope of providing information about steric interactions and conformation of tetrahydropyrane derivatives and carbohydrates. The extract showed a significant blood sugar lowering effect on normal and alloxan-diabetic mice when administered at 2.5 to 40 mg/kg ip doses, and exhibited a dose-dependent response in the mice models.