Effects of Garlic (Allium sativum) on Blood Sugar and Nephropathy in Diabetic Rats

Herb-drug interactions in diabetes mellitus: A review based on pre-clinical and clinical data

Global diabetes epidemic is the major cause of fatality and lethality. As per IDF 2019 report, diabetes caused 4.2 million deaths, approximately 463 million people are living with diabetes and by 2045, this will rise to 700 million. Nowadays, the physicians and common people in both developed and developing countries are using medicinal plants and their formulations to treat diseases with the postulation that organic commodities are safe for consumption. These plants may act as inhibitors or inducers of the Cytochrome P450 or transport and efflux proteins or both and may alter gastrointestinal, renal functions leading to Herb-Drug Interactions. This review intends to focus on the frequently employed medicinal plants, their traditional uses, their Cytochrome P450 inhibition or induction activity, phytochemical, and pharmacological effects, established HDI with the help of in vitro tools, in vivo pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics studies to understand the impact of herbs on ADME of the drug and whether it is beneficial, harmful or has no effect respectively. This review will help the physicians and other health care professionals as a reference guide to update their knowledge and expertise about HDI. However, more quality research in this area is needed to evaluate the efficacy of many herbal medicines, thereby reducing side effects and improving the safety of patients.

Prophylactic Potential of Conventional and Supercritical Garlic Extracts to Alleviate Diet Related Malfunctions

OBJECTIVES

The present research was tailored to explore the prophylactic role of garlic extracts to mitigate some diet related malfunctions. The recent patents regarding antidiabetic agents (US 20140147528 A1) and garlic compositions (US 20110129580 A1) also helped in the study design.

METHODS

Bioevaluation trials were conducted on Sprague Dawley rats by feeding garlic extracts for a period of sixty days. Accordingly, three studies were carried out comprising of normal, hyperglycemic and hypercholesterolemic rats. Drink & feed intakes and weight gain were measured throughout the trial. After sixty days, collected sera from rats were analyzed for serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL & triglyceride levels and glucose & insulin concentrations. Finally, the data obtained were subjected to statistical modeling.

RESULTS

Results concerning the bioevaluation trials revealed that maximum 12.39% reduction was observed in serum cholesterol in Study III (hypercholesterolemic rats) on the provision of garlic supercritical extract (nutraceutical diet) followed by 10.24% decline in rats fed on solvent extract supplemented diet (functional diet). Regarding LDL, maximum decrease (17.02%) was recorded on the administration of diet having garlic supercritical extract to the hypercholesterolemic rats. While in Study II (hyperglycemic rats) maximum decrease of 11.03% in glucose level was recorded in rats fed on supercritical extract containing diet. In the same group maximum increase in insulin (7.95%) was recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

From the current investigations, it can be concluded that garlic based designer foods possess the prophylactic perspectives to alleviate the risk of metabolic ailments. Thus, it can be used in the diet based therapeutic interventions as an adjuvant to pharmaceuticals.