Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2006 | Volume:5 | Issue:Supplement|Papers Count:13

Background and Aims: Increased production of oxidative stress intamediates in chronic diabetic patients has been reported in several studies. A close relation between the treatment of diabetes and intensity intermediates of oxidative stress has been demonstrated. Aim: In the present study effects of Citrullus colocynthis fruit on oxidative stress intermediates in type II diabetic patients is investigated. Materials and Methods: 44 male and female type II diabetic patients were randomly allocated in two groups of 22 patients each. One group received 100 mg Citrullus colocynthis capsule and the other group received placebo 3 times a day plus standard therapy. The biochemical parameters such as glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose, levels as well as oxidative parameters such as glutathione, superoxid dismutase, catalase and malondialdehyde were determined at the beginning and the end of the study after two months. Results: Result indicated a significant decrease in HbA1c and fasting blood glucose level in Citrullus colocynthis fruit treated patients after two months as compared to beginning of the treatment and also as compare to placebo group. The oxidative stress indicators such as glutathione, superoxid dismotase, catalase and malondialdehyde were not changed significantly in either group after two months of treatment. Conclusion: In type II diabetic patients Citrullus colocynthis fruit treatment improved glycemic profile but did not affect oxidative stress parameters.

Background: Diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension are three major risk factors that lead to the increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Historically, there has been great interest in the role of garlic in reducing cardiovascular risk factors. In this study we evaluated effects of garlic tablet in type 2 diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia. Materials and method: A clinical trial (before and after) was performed in a group of 50 type 2 diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia (39 women, 11 men, cholesterol concentration greater than or equal to 220 mg/dl) to assess the effect of garlic powder tablet on blood glucose, lipid profiles and blood pressure. Each patient received tablets which contain 300 mg of garlic powder (Garcin) 3 times per day for 6 weeks. In the beginning of study and after 6 weeks supplementation of garlic powder tablets, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin and lipid profiles were measured. 24 hr dietary recalls were used to evaluate nutritional status of patients. Data were collected by using Spss soft ware and analyzed by paired t test. Nutritional data was analyzed by Nutritionist Ш (NШ) software. Results: Our results indicate 6 weeks supplementation with garlic powder tablets were significantly decreased total cholesterol (p < 0.01) and LDL-C (p < 0.001). HDL-C was significantly increased (p < 0.02) and systolic blood pressure was significantly decreased (p < 0.03). There were no significant changes in diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, serum triglycerides and HbAıc. Also there were no significant changes in diet composition. Conclusion: We concluded that 900 mg/day garlic powder tablets for 6 weeks will significantly decreased total cholesterol, LDL-C, systolic blood pressure and increase HDL-C in type II diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia. We propose that other studies also should be performed on this product to assess quality, efficacy and safety of this product before it is recommended to patients.

Background and Objective: Cardiovascular disorders are amongst the most prevalent complications of diabetes mellitus in long term. Since vascular responsiveness to vasoactive agents changes in diabetes with time, this experimental study was conducted to evaluate time-dependent changes in the responsiveness of thoracic aorta of diabetic rats to the flavonoid quercetin. Methods: For this purpose, male wistar rats were divided into control and experimental groups. For induction of diabetes, streptozotocin (i.p.) was used. The body weight and serum glucose parameters were determined before and at 2nd, 4th, and 8th weeks after the experiment. Contractile responsiveness to KCl and noreadrenalin (NA) and quercetininduced vasorelaxation were measured at 4th and 8th weeks. Results: The results showed that after 4 and 8 weeks, quercetin (0.1 μM-1 mM) induced a dose-dependent vasorelaxation in aortic rings precontracted with KCl and/or NA from both control and diabetic groups. Furthermore, this vasorelaxation was significantly attenuated in diabetic group eight weeks after the study in comparison with data at fourth week. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the vasorelaxant effect of this flavonoid is attenuated in diabetes mellitus with time.

Background: Seeds of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.), mostly used as a spice and condiment, are attributed with diuretic, carminative, antidiarrhoeal and antirheumatic effects in traditional medicine. Objective: The purpose of this research was to experimentally assess the effect of alcoholic extracts fenugreek seeds on the level of ALT (alanine aminotransaminase) and AST (aspartate aminotransaminase) enzymes used in normal and streptozotocin-induced rats and to compare it with glibenclamide as a reference standard. Method: In the present study, effects of 14 days oral administration of 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5g/kg body wt. of the alcoholic extract of fenugreek seeds on the level of ALT (alanine transaminase) and AST (aspartate transaminase) enzymes in healthy and streptozotocininduced diabetic rats were evaluated. A comparison was made between the action of the alcoholic extract and a known antidiabetic drug, glibenclamide (600 μg/kg body wt.). Results: The results showed that orally administred alcoholic extract of fenugreek decreased serum ALT and AST only in diabetic but not in healthy rats. Conclusion: Alcoholic fenugreek seed extract can serve as a good adjuvant in the present armamentarium of antidiabetic drugs. Further biochemical and pharmacological investigations should be carried out to elucidate in detail the mechanism of action of this plant.

Background and Aims: Citrullus colocynthis (Schrad) fruit is a toxic herbal medicine extensively used by traditional herbalists for the treatment of diabetes in several parts of Iran. Clinical investigation of its efficacy and its toxicity in diabetic patients is of importance. Materials and Methods: A 2-month randomized double blind clinical trial was conducted in 50 type II diabetic patients in two matched groups. One group (n=25) received 100 mg Citrullus colocynthis capsule 3 times a day plus standard therapy, while the control group (n=25) received placebo plus standard therapy. The patients were visited monthly and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL, triglyceride, SGOT, SGPT, ALK, BUN, serum creatinine levels were determined at the beginning and the end of the study after two months. Results: There was significant decrease in HbA1c and fasting blood glucose level in citrullus colocynthis fruit treated patients after two months as compared to beginning of the treatment and also as compared to placebo group. Serum lipid level was not changed significantly. The liver enzyme level and creatinine level in blood was not changed significantly in citrullus colocynthis fruit treated patients. No serious side effect was observed except mild diarrhea in 10% of patients, that, subsided with continuation of treatment. Conclusion: The results showed that the Citrullus colocynthis fruit treatment with known gastrointestinal toxicity has beneficial effect as a complimentary therapy on improving glycemic profile in type II diabetic patients. The use of this herbal medicine in the dose of 300 mg in 3 divided doses showed no severe gasterointestinal symptom or liver and kidney abnormality during two months of therapy. The long term efficacy and toxicity of Citrullus colocynthis may be investigated in a large multi center clinical study.

Background: Urtica dioica has been used in Iranian traditional medicine as a hypoglycemic agent. However there are reports with different results about the hypoglycemic activity of Urtica dioica. Objective: This study was done to determine the chronic effect of Urtica dioica leaf extract in hyperglycemic Wistar rats. Methods: 30 Wistar rats were allocated in groups of normal, hyperglycemic and treatment. Hyperglycemia in rats was induced by streptozotocin; IP. Animals in treatment group received hydroalcholic extract of Urtica dioica (100 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks intraperitoneally. The blood glucose was measured by using a Glucometer in 1st, 3rd and 5th weeks. The animals in each group were sacrificed by ether anesthesia and pancreas β - cells in three groups were counted by histological examination. Results: the Means±SE of blood glucose concentrations in diabetic group was significantly lower than treatment groups (253.8 ± 24.2 versa 356.2 ± 28.1 mg/dl). The percent of β-cells were 73.6%, 1.9% and 1.3% in normal, hyperglycemic and treatment groups, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that chronic administration of hydroalcholic extract of Urtica dioica has no hypoglycemic effect and regeneration of β-cells of langerhans in hyperglycemic rats.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease with a relatively high prevalence in many populations throughout the world. Despite the availability of many synthetic drugs many diabetic patients are seeking herbal medications to relieve the symptoms of the disease. Kombucha tea is a fermented remedy which is produced by cultivation of Kombucha mushroom in sweet black tea solution and is consumed by many diabetic patients, but its efficacy and safety has not been scientifically evaluated. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to assess the chronic effect of Kombucha Tea consumption on weight loss in diabetic Rats. 42 male diabetic Wistar rats were divided into six groups. DM was induced by streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Animals in 1st group (control) had free access to tap water; the 2nd group (sham) consumed sweet black tea solution and the remaining 4 groups (test) received different dilutionts of Kombucha tea (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) for 15 days instead of tap water. Animals in all groups were weighted before DM induction and in days 1, 3, 7 and 15 post DM inductions. The data were analyzed as Mean ± SEM of weights in different days and in different groups by using T-test and one way ANOVA. Results: Our results showed that all groups had a significant weight loss due to DM induction (p< 0.05) which continued progressively in control group but in the sham and test groups there was a progressive weight gain during the 15 days of remedy consumption, so there was no significant difference between the weight of animals at the end of experiment and their weight before DM induction (p > 0.05). There was also not significant difference between the animal’s weight in sham and test groups at the end of this period (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion our findings indicate that both black tea and Kombucha tea prevent weight loss in diabetic rats which may be due to some active agents in black tea itself.

Background & Aims: Diabetes is a common endocrine disorder. Although the most common conventional treatment for diabetes is insulin, the diet therapy approach has many advantages in developing countries. Among many herbs, reported to possess antidiabetic activity, Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek) is one of the best in terms of efficiency and safety. The effect of carbon tetrachloride extract of fenugreek on liver glycogen has not been investigated until now. This study was designed to investigate the effect of carbon tetrachloride fenugreek in extract comparison with insulin on liver glycogen. Materials and Methods: For this purpose we used 3 groups of rats, each containing 10 animals. Stereptozotocin was administered to induce diabetes. One group served as control group, receiving no treatment; in the 2nd group, NPH insulin was administered on 3 consecutive days. For the third group, carbon tetrachloride extract of fenugreek was administered orally for 3 days. Blood glucose was measured before and after intervention. Daily water intake and liver glycogen were assayed at the end of treatment. Results: The results showed that fenugreek extract, like insulin, caused a significant decrease in blood glucose and daily water intake (P<0.05). A significant increase in liver glycogen, compared with the untreated group, was seen in the insulin and extract treated groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of this study confirm the benefits of the traditional use of fenugreek for diabetes treatment.

Diabetes is a type of body metabolic derangement that leads to high blood sugar level following low action or lack of insulin. Several type of antidiabetic drugs are used for treatment of high blood sugar level. But due to lack of effective treatment, dietary modification and other alternative intervention is fundamental to successful treatment of diabetes whether it is type I or II. Epidemiological evidence indicates strong correlation between the processed food diet habits and incidence of diabetes. However the reestablishing a traditional diet and lifestyle as well as alternative treatment of diabetes may reduce the incidence and late complication of type II diabetes. Herbal preparation are used by diabetic patients in all societies even in industrialized countries especially among unsuccessfully treated patients and those who are candidate for insulin therapy. As most of the physicians advice their patients not to use herbal medicine, the diabetic patients will use it without knowledge of their physicians. This type of herbal therapy may lead to drug interaction or false and unstable blood glucose level monitoring. The present review covers advance knowledge of herbal medicine including: Allium cepa L., Allium sativum L.Mamordica charantia L., Gymnema sylvestre L., Trigonella foenum graecum L.,  Atriplex halimus L., Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ginkgo biloba L., Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.,Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad, Securigera securidaca L. Camellia sinensis L. and some flavanoids in the management of diabetes.