Promising native plant from Sri Lanka and India lowers type-2 diabetes

Fri, 2007-07-20 05:11 Colombo, 20 July (Asiantribune.com): A native plant popularly known as "Kothala Himbutu" among Lankan Ayurvedic practioners and "Ponkoranti" by Tamil Ayurvedic practitioners, has now been scientifically proven to "lower acute glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes."
According to the latest American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, "the extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia and insulinemia in persons with type 2 diabetes after a high-carbohydrate meal." The experiments were conducted by Jennifer A Williams, Yong S Choe, Michael J Noss, Carl J Baumgartner and Vikkie A Mustad. They have concluded "the results from this study suggest that Salacia may be beneficial to this population for postprandial glucose control."
"Kothala Himbutu" / "Ponkoranti", scientifically Salacia oblonga (alternatively Salacia reticulata) is a woody plant found in the forests of Sri Lanka and India. The roots and stems of Salacia Oblonga are used extensively in Aryuveda for the treatment of Diabetes. Its roots too are used for Ayurvedic medicine, but are "acrid and bitter." The study is published in the latest American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 86, No. 1, 124-130, July 2007.
The summary / extract of it given below in full:
Extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes1,2,3,4
Jennifer A Williams, Yong S Choe, Michael J Noss, Carl J Baumgartner and Vikkie A Mustad
1 From the Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH (JAW, YSC, and VAM); Radiant Research, Cincinnati, OH (MJN), and Radiant Research, Edina, MN (CJB)
Background : Two previous studies tested the efficacy of Salacia oblonga extract in healthy adults.
Objective: This study evaluated the effect of an herbal extract of Salacia oblonga on postprandial glycemia and insulinemia in patients with type 2 diabetes after ingestion of a high-carbohydrate meal.
Design: Sixty-six patients with diabetes were studied in this randomized, double-blinded crossover study. In a fasted state, subjects consumed 1 of the following 3 meals: a standard liquid control meal, a control meal + 240 mg Salacia oblonga extract, and a control meal + 480 mg Salacia oblonga extract. Serum glucose and insulin samples were measured at baseline and at postprandial intervals up to 180 min.
Results: Both doses of the Salacia extract significantly lowered the postprandial positive area under the glucose curve (14% for the 240 mg extract and 22% for the 480 mg extract) and the adjusted peak glucose response (19% for the lower dose and 27% for the higher dose of extract) to the control meal. In addition, 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% and 9%, respectively, for the 240 mg extract; 19% and 12%, respectively, for the 480 mg extract) in comparison with the control meal.
Conclusions: The extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia and insulinemia in persons with type 2 diabetes after a high-carbohydrate meal. The results from this study suggest that Salacia may be beneficial to this population for postprandial glucose control.

Source: Yahoogroup: Ayurvedfriends

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