Indian Herb for Diabetes

The traditional Indian herbal Salacia oblonga, a woody plant found in the forests of Sri Lanka and India, may lower blood sugar and insulin responses after eating in diabetic patients, a new study suggests.

Researchers from Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories in Columbus, Ohio and Radiant Research in Edina, Minnesota investigated the effect of an herbal extract of Salacia oblonga on postprandial glycemia (blood sugar) and insulinemia (insulin levels) in patients with type 2 diabetes after ingestion of a high-carbohydrate meal.

In the randomized, double-blinded crossover study study, 66 patients with diabetes were studied. In a fasted state, subjects consumed one of the following three meals: a standard liquid control meal, a control meal + 240 milligrams Salacia oblonga extract, and a control meal + 480 milligrams Salacia oblonga extract. Serum glucose and insulin samples were measured at baseline and at postprandial intervals up to 180 minutes.

The study found that both doses of the Salacia oblonga extract significantly lowered the postprandial positive area under the glucose curve: 14 percent for the 240 milligram extract and 22 percent for the 480 milligrams extract. The adjusted peak glucose response was also significantly lowered: 19 percent for the lower dose and 27 percent for the higher dose of extract, compared to the control meal.

The study also found that both doses of the herbal extract significantly decreased the postprandial insulin response, lowering both the positive area under the insulin curve and the adjusted peak insulin response (14 percent and 9 percent, respectively, for the 240 milligrams extract; 19 percent and 12 percent, respectively, for the 480 milligram extract) in comparison with the control meal.

The study authors concluded that the extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia and insulinemia in persons with type 2 diabetes after a high-carbohydrate meal and it may be beneficial to this population for postprandial glucose control.

REFERENCES:
1. Williams JA, Choe YS, Noss MJ, et al. Extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2007 Jul;86(1):124-30. View Abstract
2. Natural Standard Research Collaboration: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com. Copyright © 2007.

Salacia oblonga is one of the seven ingredients contained in DEPSYL

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