Review of anti-diabetic medical plant used in traditional medicine

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

clinical shuesligation of citrullus cologynthis [L.] schrad, fruit in treatment of type IL diabetic patients a randomized, donble-blind, placebo-controlled study

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. 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 [HbAlc], 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. There was significant decrease in HbAlc 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. 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

[ review of herbal medicine: Silybum marianum]

Silymarin is the seed extract of silybum marianum herbal medicine widely used for liver and bilary abnormality in China and several European country. It protect liver from several toxicity including acetaminophen, alcohol and amanita mashrom poisoning. Silymarin is composed of several flavonoids with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and increasing cellular glutathion level properties. Although several experimental and clinical investigation indicating its efficacy against liver and prostate cancer, cisplatin induced kidney toxicity, and type II diabetes, but further clinical study need for its clinical use. However no adverse effect is reported by its chronic use or its administration to children, or pregnancy and lactation women

[ effect of Herbal medicine Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn. seed extract on galactose induced cataract formation in rat]

In diabetic condition the oxygen free radical and reduced glutathione level are the important risk factor for cataract formation. The preventive effect of antioxidant and increased cellular glutathione level on cataract formation reported in experimental studies. However in present study silybum marianum seed extract [silymarin] due to its antioxidative property, increased cellular glutathione level and cellular membrane stabilizing properties was tested against development of galactose-induced cataract. Thirty male rats of 45 days old were divided in three groups and placed in same environmental condition. One group kept as healthy control, feed on normal rat chew, second group received 30% galactose diet, and third group received 30% galactose diet as well as silymarin orally in the dose of 200 mg/kg daily. Cataract development was observed by ophthalmoscope and necked eye in both the groups of animal during the 40 days of the study. The glutathione and lipid peroxides were determined after 20 days in one lens of all rats. Results indicate that in control group first stage of cataract development were observed after 7 to 9 days and fourth stage after 29 to 35 days. In silymarin treated group all stages of cataract development were significantly delayed as compared to control group. The first stage of cataract development were observed after 19 to 23 days and fourth stage after 37 to 43 days in only 60% of animals. These results indicate that silymarin retarded the process of cataract development in galactose-fed rats. In conclusion the preventive effect of silymarin on galactose induced cataract formation may be due to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, increased cellular glutathione level and membrane stabilizing properties of this herbal medicine