Effect of aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos fruit and leaf on glycemic, insulinemic and lipidemic status of type 2 diabetic model rats

Can Polyherbal Medicine be used for the Treatment of Diabetes? - A Review of Historical Classics, Research Evidence and Current Prevention Programs

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic medical condition, has attained a global pandemic status over the last few decades affecting millions of people. Despite a variety of synthetic drugs available in the market, the use of herbal medicines for managing diabetes is gaining importance because of being comparatively safer. This article reviews the result of a substantial literature search on polyherbal formulations (PHFs) developed and evaluated with potential for DM. The accumulated data in the literature allowed us to enlist 76PHFs consisting of different parts of 147 plant species belonging to 58 botanical families. The documented plant species are laden with bioactive components with anti-diabetic properties and thus draw attention. The most favoured ingredient for PHFs was leaves of Gymnema sylvestre and seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum used in 27 and 22 formulations, respectively. Apart from herbs, shilajit (exudates from high mountain rocks) formed an important component of 9 PHFs, whereas calcined Mytilus margaritiferus and goat pancreas were used in Dolabi, the most commonly used tablet form of PHF in Indian markets. The healing properties of PHFs against diabetes have been examined in both pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. However, the mechanism(s) of action of PHFs are still unclear and considered the pitfalls inherent in understanding the benefits of PHFs. From the information available based on experimental systems, it could be concluded that plant-derived medicines will have a considerable role to play in the control of diabetes provided the challenges related to their bioavailability, bioefficacy, optimal dose, lack of characterization, ambiguous mechanism of action, and clinical efficiency are addressed.

Terminalia catappa aqueous leaf extract reverses insulin resistance, improves glucose transport and activates PI3K/AKT signalling in high fat/streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in sub-Saharan Africa has necessitated surveys of antidiabetic medicinal plants. This study assessed the antidiabetic mechanism of Terminalia catappa aqueous leaf extract (TCA) in high fat/low dose streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats. T2DM was induced by a combination of high-fat diet and low dose STZ (30 mg/kg bw) and the animals were administered with TCA (400 and 800 mg/kg bw) orally daily for 28 days. Biochemical parameters and indices for diabetes including renal function tests and pancreatic histology were evaluated. Relative expression of hepatic insulin resistance, signalling and glucose transport genes were also assessed. Induction of T2DM resulted in significant (p < 0.05) weight loss, dysregulated glucose level and clearance, electrolyte imbalance and disrupted diabetic biochemical parameters. Diabetes onset also perturbed β-cell function and insulin resistance indices, damaged pancreas microanatomy, while disrupting the expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT) and glucose transporter isoform 4 (GLUT-4) mRNA. Oral treatment of diabetic animals with TCA significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated alterations due to T2DM induction in a manner comparable with glibenclamide. These results suggest TCA exerts its antidiabetic action by reversing insulin resistance, improving glucose transport and activating PI3K/AKT signalling.

Traditional fruits of South India: Bioactive components and their potential health implications in chronic diseases

Fruits are colorful, flavorful, and nutritious components and play an important role for the vital health and maintenance of our body. Experimental evidences suggested that fruits contain various bioactive constituents including flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids, and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Because of these, fruits are receiving greater attention to treat and/or control various health complications such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune system decline, and certain neurological disorders. Experimental evidences from various in vitro and in vivo imply that fruit extracts and/or isolated bioactive compounds are associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties. Therefore, fruits have the potential to be converted into functional foods as well as pharmaceuticals to prevent or/and treat several chronic complications. In the present article, we review current knowledge about the bioactivities and health benefits of selected Indian fruits for the treatment/management of the chronic health complications in humans. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This review provides practical information about how best to take advantage of the bioactive compounds and health implications of the South Indian fruits like Bael, Jujube, Cotton Candy Berry, and Manilla Tamarind as a potential source of functional and nutritive compounds. It aims at emphasizing the most recent findings on biological effects of major groups of fruits like Bael, Jujube, Cotton Candy Berry, and Manilla Tamarind and their major components, their medical interest, potential drug interaction, notably for human nutrition, health benefits, and therapeutic impacts.

The evaluation of lipid peroxidation and oxidative modification of proteins in blood serum under obesity development and the consumption of aqueous kidney beans Phaseolus vulgaris pods extract

Our interest has focused on the investigation of the anti-obese potential of kidney beans (P. vulgaris) pods extract. In the course of the study, obesity development in rats was induced with high-calorie diet. Control and obese rats then have consumed with aqueous kidney beans (P. vulgaris) pods extract during 6 weeks (200 mg/kg). Results show that the long-term consumption of P. vulgaris pods extract can lead to the reduction of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance development. Furthermore, we saw a normalization of lipid peroxidation parameters and oxidative modification of protein due to the consumption of the kidney beans (P. vulgaris) pods extract. Our experimental data demonstrate the ability of the kidney beans (P. vulgaris) pod extracts to mitigate obesity development but the details of this mechanism remains to be not fully understood.

Role of medicinal plants in the management of diabetes mellitus: a review

Medicinal plants have a vast potential in the treatment of various ailments due to the presence of therapeutically important phytochemicals. Diabetes is a serious metabolic disorder and several marketed medications are available to alleviate the symptoms of diabetes. However, these over the counter drugs are expensive and associated with several complications. Herbal medicines are gaining importance as they are cost-effective and also display improved therapeutic effects with lesser side effects. The present review includes the reports available on medicinal plants used for treating diabetes complications. The aim of the review is to categorize and summarize the available information on medicinal plants with anti-diabetic properties and suggesting outlooks for future research. A systematic search was performed on medicinal plants with anti-diabetic properties using several search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct and other online journals and books. All the plants listed in this review are native to Asian countries and are routinely used by the traditional practitioners for the treatment of various ailments. Based on the literature data available, a total of 81 medicinal plants with anti-diabetic, anti-hyperglycemic, hypoglycemic, anti-lipidemic and insulin mimetic properties have been compiled in this review. This review provides useful information about the different medicinal plants for treating diabetes-associated complications. Further research can be carried out to study the active constituents and mechanism of these plants.

Management of diabetes using herbal extracts: review

Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterised by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with long-term damage and dysfunction of many organs. Diabetes caused 1.5 million deaths in 2012, with hyperglycemia causing an additional 2.2 million deaths, as it is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and other diseases. Various types of plants have been used for several centuries worldwide not only as dietary supplements but also as traditional treatment regimens for many diseases. So far, a large number of traditionally claimed plant medicine has been tested for diabetes and some of them showed a promising therapeutic potential. The main focus of this review is to describe what we know to date of herbal extracts, along with their glucose-lowering mechanisms, which are either through insulin-mimicking activity, enhanced β-cells regeneration, or glucose uptake.