(Z)-3-butylidenephthalide from Ligusticum porteri , an α-glucosidase inhibitor.

An extract from the roots of Ligusticum porteri, orally administered to groups of normal and diabetic mice, showed significant hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects. Experimental type-II DM was achieved by treating mice with streptozotocin 15 min after an injection of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. (Z)-6,6',7,3'α-diligustilide (1), (Z)-ligustilide (2), 3-(Z)-butylidenephthalide (3), myristicin (4), and ferulic acid (5) were isolated from the active extract.