Thursday, September 08, 2011

Molecule of the day: phlorizin

The molecule of the day is phlorizin:


It's a natural product found in the bark of apple, pear, and cherry trees.  It inhibits sodium-glucose symporters, and thereby causes renal glycosuria and blocks intestinal absorption of glucose.  It can therefore be used to decrease blood glucose without (directly) manipulating insulin signaling, as in this paper

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