Do Indian Plants and Spices Hold Future Secrets for Diabetes Medication?

2011 scientific researchers test Indian culinary plants, spices, and herbs for anti-diabetic properties

By Melanie Hundley

Diabetics are usually very familiar with the carbohydrate load of their food. They are trained to analyze their blood sugar levels after eating specific foods or combinations of foods so they can predict the impact to their blood. This may be said of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics.

As they perform the ritual of eating and then testing their blood, diabetics become aware that some foods move more slowly through the digestion and absorption process. Diabetic education may encourage patients to seek nutritionally rich foods that digest more slowly and do not cause a high spike or long period of rise in the blood sugar level which demands a high insulin response.  That is one reason foods containing certain levels of sugar or carbohydrates may be discouraged or perhaps combinations of some lower glycemic foods may be more considered advantageous.

As a result, diabetics are often looking for the "right foods" for their body's digestive and insulin response.  Meanwhile, certain medications have been derived to assist with reducing hyperglycaemia (elevated blood sugar) or mimicking insulin.

A very interesting research article is coming out in the December 2011 issue of Food Chemistry

journal that touches on the bioactivity of some plant sources and may lead to new medications or better understanding of the diabetic processes and metabolism.

Kaur, Han, Bains, and Singh collaborated to offer their perspective on several culinary plants used in Indian cooking and culture.  The researchers from Massey University in New Zealand and Punjab Agricultural University in India explore how specific plants may "enhance glucose-induced insulin secretion and glucose consumption" in certain beta cells and fat cells (adipocytes).  Essentially, they wanted to analyze any "anti-diabetic" effects from the following:

• Jamun also known as jambol, Indian blackberry, black plum (Eugenia jambolana), e.g., seeds
• Kikar a.k.a. babul (Acacia arabica), e.g., stem bark
• Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), e.g., fiber, oils
• Neem (Azadiracheta indica), e.g., seeds, and
• Bitter gourd a.k.a. bitter melon, balsam pear, fugkwa (Momordica charantia), e.g., fruit, leaves, roots

While there are numerous references to these items in the natural health information online, this research appears to bring a scientific approach to the validation.  Their article offers additional reference information for most of these plants, spices, and herbs that may prove helpful to other research reviewers. For example, they cite prior research concerning the alkaloids, "steroidal saponin-like substance," and other diabetic-related and bio-active components in the bitter gourd.

NOTE: A review of the science behind these herbs and plants should be carefully considered by anyone interested in this research. In some forms or without proper preparation, some organic products may be poisonous or cause serious illness or death. Always consult a licensed medical physician before pursuing any new or different use of food, plants, herbs, or spices. People may also experience life-threatening allergies without warning, incorrect selection or potency from unreliable sources, or life-threatening drug reactions and/or interactions with current treatments when coming into contact with any bioactive plant, herb, or spice.  Additional warnings and information on ayurveda (ayurvadic medicine) have been published by the National Institutes of Health on their National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCAM) website, including concerns about toxic metals in internet sources of ayurvedic products.

Kaur et al tested purified powders of the various plants using a series of laboratory extractions and applications.  Their in vitro testing involved a special line of "glucose-responsive clonal insulin-secreting cells" from Switzerland and Virginia. They mimicked digestion processes with a common Kjeldahl method.

The Results

After analyzing their various tests results which are detailed in their paper, Kaur et al reported:

• Jamun and fenugreek extracts significantly stimulated insulin release, glucose consumption, and limited glucose movement across a "dialysis membrane"
• Kikar extract significantly increased insulin secretion and may hold secrets of a new "oral hypoglycaemic compound"
• Harad and neem showed signs of anti-hyperglycemic properties, and
• Bitter gourd showed some promise of insulin stimulation.

This team's work may open up new avenues of diabetic medications or treatment methods.  Scientific research can be about taking small steps towards a big solution.  Based on their results, they would be reasonable to pursue additional research on identifying the constituents and anti-diabetic mechanisms of these plants.  They suspect the bioactivity is associated with the various "polysaccharides, peptides, and terpenoids, etc.," in these culinary delights. And the team is hopeful that their results may apply to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes management.

Personally, I was encouraged by their research article and was especially appreciative of their detailed testing methodology, cellular models, and controlled environment information.  I have asked Dr. Kaur and her team to keep us posted on emerging findings.

Special thanks to Dr. Lovedeep Kaur, Research Officer at the Riddet Institute, Massey University, for sharing additional insight on the team's research efforts.

Disclaimer: This is an editorial review only, written by a non-medical author, and is subject to change or update.  The information and links contained in this article are for educational purposes only to support further inquiry and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a licensed medical doctor for advice.  While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, readers should always refer to the original cited sources for verification and/or any interpretation of source material. Author assumes no liability for content, errors, and/or omissions.  

Sources

• Cole Parmer. (2011). Kjeldahl Method for Determining Nitrogen.  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from corporate website.
• Cornell University. (2009, March 26). Plants Poisonous to Livestock. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from education website. 
• Cyberlipid.org. Terpenoids. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from organization website.
• Farlex, Inc. (2011). Bioactive. The Free Dictionary.  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from corporate website.
• Farlex, Inc. (2011). Clonal. The Free Dictionary.  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from corporate website.
• Google.com. (2011). Google search: "acacia arabica."  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from online search engine. 
• Google.com. (2011). Google search: "neem."  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from online search engine. 
  
• Kaur, L., Han, K., Bains, K., & Singh, H. (2011). Indian culinary plants enhance glucose-induced insulin secretion and glucose consumption in INS-1 β-cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Food Chemistry, 129(3), 1120-1125. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from EBSCOhost online database.  DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.05.089.
• Livestrong.com. (2011, July 18). What are the benefits of Eugenia Jambolana? Retrieved August 17, 2011, from corporate website.
• Massey University. (2011). Dr. Lovedeep Kaur. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from education website.
• Massey University (2011). Riddet Institute. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from education website.
• MedicineNet, Inc. (2011, April 27).  Adipocyte.  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from MedicineNet online database. 
  
• MedicineNet, Inc. (2003, October 31).  Definition of Alkaloid.  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from MedicineNet online database.
• MedicineNet, Inc. (2011, April 27). Glucose.  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from MedicineNet online database. 
• MedicineNet, Inc. (2011). Insulin.  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from MedicineNet online database. 
• MedicineNet, Inc. (2011, April 27). Pancreatic Beta Cell.  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from MedicineNet online database.  
• National Institute of Health. Ayurvedic Medicine.  Retrieved August 17, 2011, from government website.
• Saper RB, Phillips RS, Sehgal A, et al. Lead, mercury, and arsenic in U.S. and Indian-manufactured ayurvedic medicines sold via the Internet.  Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008;300(8):915–923. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from National Institutes of Health NCAM government website.
• The Regents of the University of California. (2011). Diabetes Education Online. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from education website.
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• WebMD.com. (2011). Bitter Melon. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from corporate website. 
• WebMD.com. (2011). Natural Remedies For Type 2 Diabetes [Fenugreek]. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from corporate website.  

Article Copyright 2011 by Melanie Hundley, U.S.A.  All Rights Reserved. No claim is made to other copyright materials cited.  Photo credit: Arvind Balaraman.

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