(Journal Article): Complementary therapies and diabetes
Dunning T (Endocrinology and Diabetes Nursing Research, Department of Endocrinology, St. Vincent's Hospital, 4th Floor, Daly Wing, 41, Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Australia,
dunnint@svhm.org.au
)
IN:
Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery
2003; 9(2):74-80
ABSTRACT: There is increasing recognition that people with diabetes use a range of complementary therapies (CT), for a number of conditions, but do not always inform their conventional health practitioners about their use. Controlling blood glucose levels in people with diabetes is important to reduce the consequent metabolic abnormalities and symptoms and the incidence of long-term complications. Conventional medical and nursing practitioners often incorrectly assume that they are used to control blood glucose levels, e.g. using herbal medicines to increase insulin production or reduce insulin resistance. CT can be beneficial for people with diabetes. They can also lead to adverse events. This paper describes the outcome of monitoring complementary therapy use in our diabetic outpatient services in 2001, the results of a focus group (n=10) to explore issues identified in the monitoring process and a survey undertaken with a convenience sample of diabetes educators (n=40).Twenty percent of patients used CT and there were three adverse events in the monitoring phase. Eight of the 10 focus group participants used CT and 16 of the diabetes educators used CT in patient care. Only one had a complementary therapy qualification.
TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article
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(Journal Article): Beneficial effects of aloe vera leaf gel extract on lipid profile status in rats with streptozotocin diabetes
Rajasekaran S, Ravi K, Sivagnanam K, Subramanian S. (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.,
subbus2020@yahoo.co.in
)
IN:
Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol.
2006; 33(3):232-237
ABSTRACT: 1. The effect of diabetes mellitus on lipid metabolism is well established. The association of hyperglycaemia with an alteration of lipid parameters presents a major risk for cardiovascular complications in diabetes. Many secondary plant metabolites have been reported to possess lipid-lowering properties. The present study was designed to examine the potential antihyperlipidaemic efficacy of the ethanolic extract from Aloe vera leaf gel in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. 2. Oral administration of aloe vera gel extract at a dose of 300 mg/kg bodyweight per day to STZ-induced diabetic rats for a period of 21 days resulted in a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose, hepatic transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase), plasma and tissue (liver and kidney) cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids and phospholipids and a significant improvement in plasma insulin. 3. In addition, the decreased plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and increased plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in diabetic rats were restored to near normal levels following treatment with the extract. 4. The fatty acid composition of the liver and kidney was analysed by gas chromatography. The altered fatty acid composition in the liver and kidney of diabetic rats was restored following treatment with the extract. 5. Thus, the results of the present study provide a scientific rationale for the use of Aloe vera as an antidiabetic agent.
TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article
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(Journal Article): Antidiabetic, antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic status of heliotropium zeylanicum extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats
Murugesh K, Yeligar V, Dash DK, Sengupta P, Maiti BC, Maity TK. (Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Jadavpur University; India,
sarugesh@yahoo.com
)
IN:
Biol Pharm Bull
2006; 29(11):2202-2205
Impact Factor(s) of Biol Pharm Bull: 1.392 (2004), 1.124 (2003), 1.038 (2002), 0.82 (2001)
ABSTRACT: The potential role of the methanolic extract of Heliotropium zeylanicum (BURM.F) LAMK (MEHZ) in the treatment of diabetes along with its antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic effects was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of (MEHZ) 150 and 300 mg/kg/d for 14 d significantly decreased the blood glucose level and considerably increased the body weight, food intake, and liquid intake of diabetic-induced rats. MEHZ significantly decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and significantly increased reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at the end of 14 d of treatment. The study also investigated the antihyperlipidemic potential of MEHZ. The results show that the active fraction of MEHZ is promising for development of a standardized phytomedicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article
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(Journal Article): The efficacy of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (silymarin) in the treatment of type II diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.
Huseini HF, Larijani B, Heshmat R, Fakhrzadeh H, Radjabipour B, Toliat T, Raza M. (Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR Tehran, Iran.,
huseini_fallah@yahoo.com
)
IN:
Phytother Res.
2006; yet to be published:online publication
Fulltext: PDF
ABSTRACT: Oxidative stresses are increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications which may either cause direct pancreatic beta-cell damage or lead to metabolic abnormalities that can induce or aggravate diabetes. The valuable effect of antioxidant nutrients on the glycemic control of diabetic patients has been reported in experimental and clinical studies. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the herbal medicine, Silybum marianum seed extract (silymarin), which is known to have antioxidant properties on the glycemic profile in diabetic patients. A 4-month randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted in 51 type II diabetic patients in two well-matched groups. The first group (n = 25) received a silymarin (200 mg) tablet 3 times a day plus conventional therapy. The second group (n = 26) received the same therapy but a placebo tablet instead of silymarin. The patients were visited monthly and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1)c), fasting blood glucose (FBS), insulin, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL, triglyceride, SGOT and SGPT levels were determined at the beginning and the end of the study. The results showed a significant decrease in HbA(1)c, FBS, total cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride SGOT and SGPT levels in silymarin treated patients compared with placebo as well as with values at the beginning of the study in each group. In conclusion, silymarin treatment in type II diabetic patients for 4 months has a beneficial effect on improving the glycemic profile.
TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article
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(Journal Article): Hypoglycaemic and hypotensive effects of Globimetula cupulata (DC) Van Tieghem (Loranthaceae) aqueous leaf extract in rats.
Ojewole JA, Adewole SO. (Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.)
IN:
Cardiovasc J S Afr.
2007; 18(1):9-15
Fulltext: HTML
ABSTRACT: The leaves of some mistletoes, specifically Loranthus micranthus Linn, Tapinanthus dodoneifolius (DC) Danser and Globimetula cupulata (DC) Van Tieghem (family: Loranthaceae), are used traditionally in Nigerian folk medicine to manage, control and/or treat a plethora of human ailments, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension. In order to scientifically appraise some of the folkloric, ethnomedical uses of Globimetula species, the present study was undertaken to investigate the hypoglycaemic and hypotensive effects of Globimetula cupulata aqueous leaf extract (GCE, 50-800 mg/kg po) in rat experimental paradigms. The hypoglycaemic effect of the plant extract was examined in normal (normoglycaemic) and diabetic (hyperglycaemic) rats using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes model. Normotensive Wistar and hypertensive Dahl saltsensitive rats were used to investigate the hypotensive (antihypertensive) effect of the plant extract. Metformin (MFM, 500 mg/kg po) was used as the reference hypoglycaemic agent for comparison. Acute oral administrations of G cupulata aqueous leaf extract (GCE, 50-800 mg/kg po) caused dose-related, significant (p < 0.05-0.001) hypoglycaemia in normal and STZ-treated diabetic rats. Furthermore, acute intravenous administrations of GCE (50-800 mg/kg iv) produced dose-dependent, significant reductions (p < 0.05-0.001) in systemic arterial blood pressure and heart rates of the normotensive and hypertensive rats used. Although the exact hypoglycaemic and hypotensive mechanisms of action of the plant extract still remain speculative, it is unlikely that the extract induced hypotension in the mammalian experimental animal model via cholinergic mechanisms, since its cardiovascular effects were resistant to atropine pretreatment. However, the findings of this experimental study indicated that Globimetula cupulata aqueous leaf extract possesses hypoglycaemic and hypotensive properties. This therefore lends pharmacological support to the folkloric, ethnomedical uses of the plant in the management and/ or control of diabetes mellitus and hypertension among the Yoruba-speaking people of western Nigeria.
TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article
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(Journal Article): Safety and hypoglycaemic properties of aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.
Egesie UG, Adelaiye AB, Ibu JO, Egesie OJ. (Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria)
IN:
Niger J Physiol Sci
2006; 21((1-2)):31-35
Fulltext: HTML
ABSTRACT: The claim by Nigerian traditional herbal medicine practitioners that Ocimum gratissimum leaves has antidiabetic properties was investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced with streptozotocin and graded doses of the aqueous leaf extract were administered orally to the experimentally diabetic rats for 28 days. Administration of the aqueous leaf extract caused a statistically significant reduction in plasma glucose level in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The extract appeared nontoxic as evidenced by normal serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, TPT, ALB and bilirubin. These data appear to agree with claimed hypoglycaemic effects of Ocimum gratissimum.
TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article
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(Journal Article): In vitro study of elements in herbal remedies.
Szentmihalyi K,, Hajdu M, Fodor J, Kotai L, Blazovics A, Somogyi A, Then M. (Institute of Material and Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1525 Budapest, P.O. Box 17, Hungary.)
IN:
Biol Trace Elem Res
2006; 114(1-3):143-150
Impact Factor(s) of Biol Trace Elem Res: 0.836 (2004), 0.893 (2003), 0.871 (2002), 0.769 (2001)
Fulltext: HTML
ABSTRACT: Decreased glucose tolerance is a first sign of diabetes mellitus and therefore rigorous control must be taken in carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms. Herbal remedies (lyophilized extracts of Myrtilli folium and Phaseoli fructus sine seminibus (L1), Myrtilli folium, Phaseoli fructus sine seminibus, and Salviae folium (L2) are traditionally used in mid-European folk medicine and in common adjuvant therapy for the prevention of complications in type 2 diabetes. Significant iron (355.7 +/- 13.8 mg/kg) and zinc (84.73 +/- 1.83 mg/kg) concentration was found in L1 and chromium (3.82 +/- 2.71 mg/kg) in L2. Ion concentrations in teas made from L1 and L2 are relatively low because the quantities of metal ions in teas do not cover the daily need, although the teas are good sources for some elements. According to the Recommended Daily Allowances, the tea of L1 is a good source for iron and manganese, whereas for chromium, the tea of L2 is better. For evaluating the element bioavailability, an in vitro dialysis system was applied to determine the element transfer from tea of the lyophilized sample to the plasma (buffer pH=7.4). Measurements showed that the elements transferred between 6.90% (iron from tea of L2) and 90.05% (chromium from tea of L2) through the membrane from teas to the plasma. Metal ions in teas of herbal remedies might contribute to the favorable therapeutic effect of preventing complications, because they might transfer through the membranes in relatively high percentages.
TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article
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(Journal Article): Protective effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress in rats.
Li XM. (School of Food Engineering of XingJang Agriculture College, Urumqi city, XinJiang 832000, PR China.)
IN:
Int J Biol Macromol.
2007; 40(5):461-5
ABSTRACT: Fruit from Lycium barbarum L. in the family Solanaceae is well-known in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) have been identified as one of the active ingredients responsible for its biological activities. We isolated polysaccharides from dried Lycium barbarum fruits by boiling water extraction. In the study, 50 animals were divided into two groups: a nondiabetic control (n=10) and a diabetic group (n=40). Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin (50mg/kg BW; Sigma, USA) freshly dissolved in a 0.1mol/L citrate buffer (pH 4.5) into the intraperitonium. The normal control rats and the untreated diabetic control rats were only injected with the citrate buffer. Treated diabetic rats were administrated with LBP in drinking water through oral gavage for 30 days. At the end of experiment, oxidative indice in blood, liver and kidney of all groups were examined. The results show that administration of LBP can restore abnormal oxidative indice near normal levels. Therefore, we may assume that LBP is effective in the protection of liver and kidney tissue from the damage of STZ-induced diabetic rats and that the LBP may be of use as a antihyperglycemia agent.
TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article
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