罗汉果是葫芦科植物罗汉果的果实，产于广西，主治肺热痰火咳嗽、咽喉炎、扁桃体炎、急性胃炎、便秘等。罗汉果富含三萜类成分罗汉果皂苷，因其甜度高、热量底而作为甜味剂被广泛使用，尤其是作为肥胖者和糖尿病患者的代用糖。许多研究表明，罗汉果皂苷能提高葡萄糖和脂肪的利用，增加胰岛素的敏感性，但罗汉果降血糖作用的有效成分和作用机制并不明确。
罗汉果降血糖机制研究获进展
目前，《生物有机与药物化学》（Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry）发表了研究论文“Potential AMPK activators of cucurbitane triterpenoids from Siraitia grosvenorii Swingle”对罗汉果的降血糖作用进行了研究。研究人员首先在HepG2细胞中，对罗汉果中含量最高的罗汉果苷V (mogrosides V)进行测试，发现它对AMPK没有活性。有文献报道，罗汉果苷V 在体内通过消化酶和肠内微生物发生降解，并在肛血中发现了罗汉果苷元。因此，研究人员将用酸水解并且分离得到8个化合物进行测试，结果发现包括罗汉果的主要苷元mogrol在内的3个化合物都能激活AMPK。而激活AMPK是代谢综合症（肥胖和2型糖尿病）的潜在治疗靶点。所以该研究表明罗汉果苷元mogrol有望成为一种新的AMPK激动剂。
该项研究由胡立宏课题组和沈旭课题组合作，由研究生陈旭冰、庄静静、刘军华（华东理工大学联合培养研究生）和陈静副研究员等完成。
相关英文论文摘要
Potential AMPK activators of cucurbitane triterpenoids from Siraitia grosvenorii Swingle
AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) as a key controller in the regulation of whole-body energy homeostasis, plays an important role in protecting the body from metabolic diseases. Recently, improved glucose, lipid utility and increased insulin sensitivity were observed on several diabetic rodent models treated with crude mogrosides isolated from the fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii Swingle, but the precise active compounds responsible for the anti-diabetic activity of this plant have not been clearly identified. In our current work, acid hydrolysis of crude mogrosides provided five new cucurbitane triterpenoids (1-4, 8), along with three known ones (5-7). The main aglycone mogrol (7) and compounds 4 and 8 were found to be potent AMPK activators in the HepG2 cell line. This result suggested AMPK activation by the mogroside aglycones 7 and 8 was proved to contribute at least partially to the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-lipidemic properties in vivo of S. grosvenorii.
英文论文链接：https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096808961100664X
