Medicinal plants of India with anti-diabetic potential.

http://atarazanas.sci.uma.es/docs/articulos/16668558.pdf

Effects of antioxidant enzymes in the molecular control of reactive oxygen species toxicology.

http://www.sld.cu/galerias/pdf/sitios/mednat/natural_medicines_used_in_the_traditional_chinese_medical_system_for_therapy_of_diabetes_mellitus.pdf

Natural medicines used in the traditional Chinese medical system for therapy of diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE —To conduct a systematic review of the published literature on the efficacy and safety of herbal therapies and vitamin/mineral supplements for glucose control in patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —We conducted an electronic literature search of MEDLINE, OLDMEDLINE, Cochrane Library Database, and HealthSTAR, from database inception to May 2002, in addition to performing hand searches and consulting with experts in the field. Available clinical studies published in the English language that used human participants and examined glycemic control were included. Data were extracted in a standardized manner, and two independent investigators assessed methodological quality of randomized controlled trials using the Jadad scale. RESULTS —A total of 108 trials examining 36 herbs (single or in combination) and 9 vitamin/mineral supplements, involving 4,565 patients with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. There were 58 controlled clinical trials involving individuals with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (42 randomized and 16 nonrandomized trials). Most studies involved patients with type 2 diabetes. Heterogeneity and the small number of studies per supplement precluded formal meta-analyses. Of these 58 trials, the direction of the evidence for improved glucose control was positive in 76% (44 of 58). Very few adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS —There is still insufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions about the efficacy of individual herbs and supplements for diabetes; however, they appear to be generally safe. The available data suggest that several supplements may warrant further study. The best evidence for efficacy from adequately designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is available for Coccinia indica and American ginseng. Chromium has been the most widely studied supplement. Other supplements with positive preliminary results include Gymnema sylvestre , Aloe vera , vanadium, Momordica charantia , and nopal.

/pdf/systematic-review-of-herbs-and-dietary-supplements-for-2bv10wr1xi.pdf

K. Radha Shanmugasundaram

Papers

Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients.

Possible regeneration of the islets of langerhans in streptozotocin diabetic rats given gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts

Use of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in the control of blood glucose in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Antioxidant activity of a salt-spice-herbal mixture against free radical induction.

The insulinotropic activity of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. an indian medical herb used in controlling diabetes mellitus