A phenylethanoid glycoside selectively inhibits aldose reductase over maltase and sucrase (IC50s 0.071 300 and 277 UM respectively for the rat enzymes) scavenges superoxide radicals in a cell-free assay and inhibits AAPH-induced hemolysis in isolated rat red blood cells decreases glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in primary rat cortical neurons at 0.1 1 and 10 UM protects primary mouse hepatocytes against D-galactosamine-induced cytotoxicity (IC50 4.8 Ug/ml) prevents decreases in bone strength in ovariectomized mice from 10-40 mg/kg