280 PHLORIDZIN DIABETES 



Fate ofPhloridzin in theBody. In reference to this point 

 it has been shown by a study emanating from the laboratory 

 of M. Cremer 22 that a portion of the phloridzin is excreted 

 in the form of a combined glycuronic acid. Another part 

 apparently undergoes further change; after subcutaneous 

 injection (according to investigation by K. Glassner and 

 E. P. Pick) phloridzin can always be found for some time 

 in the blood and tissues of the experiment animal. In 

 nephrectomized animals, however, after small doses the 

 glucoside disappears, which perhaps may be interpreted by 

 supposing that this foreign substance is destroyed with in- 

 creased readiness in the body if its normal elimination is 

 prevented. 23 The real situation of affairs is, however, not 

 clear. 



Little is known of the finer mechanism of this remark- 

 able metabolic influence of phloridzin. Offhand it is diffi- 

 cult to decide whether Biircker's 24 observation that phlorid- 

 zin inhibits spontaneous oxidation of glucose in alkali 

 solution, has anything to do with its effect in producing 

 diabetes. It is worth noting, even if one cannot readily 

 understand them, that experiments in Salkowski's labora- 

 tory have shown that aliphatic alcohols with an odd number 

 of carbohydrate atoms in the molecule (methyl alcohol, 

 propyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, glycerol), but not those with an 

 even number (as ethyl alcohol and butyl alcohol) give rise to 

 an increase of sugar excretion in phoridzin animals. 25 Per- 

 haps this may prove a loop hole through which we may 

 approach a little nearer the secret of sugar synthesis in the 

 phloridzin kidney. 



22 J. Schiiller (Lab. of M. Cremer, Cologne), Zeitschr. f. Biol., 56, 274, 1911. 



38 K. Glassner and E. P. Pick (E. Paltauf's Lab.), Hofmeister's Beitr., 10, 

 473, 1907; Pfltiger's Arch., 133, 82, 1910; J. Schiiller, 1. c., p. 290; cf. also 

 opposed view of E. Leschke, Arch. f. Anat. u. Physiol., 1910, 437; Pfliiger's 

 Arch., 132, 319, 1910; 185, 171, 1910. 



**Burcker (Tubingen), Deutsch. Physiol. Kongr., Miinchen, 1911, Centralbl. 

 f. Physiol., 25, 1091, 1911. 



*P. Hockendorf (Pathol. Instit., Chem. Div., Berlin), Biochem. Zeitschr., 

 23, 281, 1909. 



