ABSTRACT: This present work is designed to evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of 22 ginsenosides via the inhibition against rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR), and human recombinant aldose reductase (HRAR), using DL-glyceraldehyde as a substrate. Among the ginsenosides tested, ginsenoside Rh2, (20S) ginsenoside Rg3, (20R) ginsenoside Rg3, and ginsenoside Rh1 inhibited RLAR significantly, with IC50 values of 0.67, 1.25, 4.28, and 7.28 µM, respectively. Moreover, protopanaxadiol, protopanaxatriol, compound K, and ginsenoside Rh1 were potent inhibitors of HRAR, with IC50 values of 0.36, 1.43, 2.23, and 4.66 µM, respectively. The relationship of structure-activity exposed that the existence of hydroxyl groups, linkages, and their stereo-structure, as well a
