Medicinal compositions for treating or preventing diabetes, rheumatoid, diseases wherein
inflammation should be inhibited, diseases wherein alpha-glycosidase should be inhibited, diseases wherein the synthesis of
prostaglandin should be inhibited, diseases wherein
endotoxin shock should be inhibited, diseases wherein the production of
interleukin should be inhibited, diseases wherein the production of
heme oxygenase should be induced, and diseases wherein the production of
tumor necrosis factor or
carcinogenesis should be inhibited, which contain as the
active ingredient at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose represented by formula (I), its
aldehyde, its
hydrate and 2-O-methylated derivatives and 2-O-sulfated derivatives thereof.