What is Diabetrix?

Ophiopogon japonicus, also known as dwarf lilyturf, mondograss, fountainplant or monkeygrass, is a species of Ophiopogon native to China, India, Japan and Vietnam.

In traditional Chinese medicine Ophiopogon japonicus tuber, known as “mai men dong”, is the cardinal herb for yin deficiency. According to the Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, the herb is sweet, slightly bitter and slightly cold, enters the heart, lung and stomach channels and nourishes the yin of the stomach, spleen, heart and lungs, as well as clears heat and quiets irritability. Further, a number of studies demonstrated the hypoglycemic effect of the extract from different parts of the plant.

A study called “The protective effect of polysaccharide extracted from Ophiopogon japonicus on diabetic mice”, carried out by the Medicine and Life Science Department of the Institute of Engineering Glycobiology in China showed that polysaccharides extracted from the root of Ophiopogon japonicus have significant effect on lipid metabolism in blood antioxidant activity, but also protective effects on the liver and kidneys of diabetic subjects. Biochemical and histopathological analyzes also showed that OJP1 (a polysaccharide isolated from the plant composition) reduces damage to liver and kidneys of diabetic subjects.

Another study carried out at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, called “Polysaccharides from Ophiopogon japonicus in treating type 2 diabetes” shows that extracts of this plant decrease insulin resistance, blood sugar levels and significantly improves the sugar tolerance in type 2 diabetes.

A study of Wenzhou Medical College in China demonstrated the anti-oxidative and hypoglicemic properties of Ophiopogon japonicas. The pharmaceutical experiments showed that OJP1 reduced blood sugar, increased insulin secretion and remediated the pancreatic beta-islet destruction (Langerhans) in mice with induced diabetes.

A more complex study, called “MDG-1-1 polysaccharide in Ophiopogon japonicus exert hypoglycemic effect on PI3K / Akt in mice with induced diabetes,” conducted jointly by the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shanghai Pudong, the Center of Research and Engineering Technology of the TCM Preparations University and the Shanghai Shuguang Hospital, demonstrated that MDG-1, a polysaccharide in Ophiopogon japonicas, reduced blood sugar level, hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia in mice with induced diabetes.

Oral glucose tolerance test as well as other insulin tests have shown that after treatment with MDG-1 the insulin resistance decreased. The conclusion of the study referred to the remarkable anti-diabetic activity of MDG-1 extracted from Ophiopogon japonicus, which is a promising compound in the future treatments of type 2 diabetes.

Rehmannia chinensis, sometimes known as Chinese Foxglove due to its superficial resemblance to the genus Digitalis, is a species of perennial herbs endemic to China. The plants have large flowers and are grown as ornamental garden plants in Europe and North America, and are used medicinally in Asia. Known as “dìhuang” or “gan dìhuang” in Chinese, Rehmannia chinensis is used as a medicinal herb for arthritic conditions within Chinese traditional formulations and it is included on the list of “50 fundamental herbs of traditional Chinese medicine”.

The root is the main part of the plant and can be used in several ways. It has antimicrobial, antiseptic, cardiac, diuretic, hemostatic, hypoglycemic and tonic effects.

Rehmannia chinensis has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, urticaria and chronic nephritis in several studies carried out by Chinese researchers. It also has been used to prevent adverse effects of steroid medication.

Positive results were proved in treating aplastic anemia. Rehmannia chinensis mitigates adverse effects of chemotherapeutic agents and drugs administered against HIV infection, heals eczema (dry skin), and relieves pain caused by bone cancer.

Hypogylicemic effects

Several studies have shown the mechanisms of action of the watery extract or methanol extract from Rehmannia chinensis as having the effect of lowering glucose-6-phosphatase and fructokinase levels, stimulating the growth of the glycogen content stored in the liver and increasing the insulin secretion of the pancreas, while reducing insulin resistance. In addition, it was found that the root of Rehmannia chinensis improves symptoms of Type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).

Some of the above mentioned studies are:

Root Rhemannia chinensis in: WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants. Vol 3. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2007

RX Zhang, Li MX, Jia ZP. Rehmannia glutinosa: review of Botany, Chemistry and Pharmacology. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008

Miura T, Kako M, Ishihara E. R. antidiabetic effects of Rehmannia glutinosa on KK-ay mice. Planta Med. Waisundara 199 VY, Huang M, Hsu, Huang D, BK Tan. Characterization of the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of Rehmannia glutinosa on diabetic mice. Am J Chin Med. 2008

Zhang R, Zhou J, Jia Z, Zhang Y, Gu G. hypoglycemic effects of Rehmannia glutinosa oligosaccharide on mice with induced diabetes; hyperglycemia and its mechanisms. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004

Job’s tears (US) or Job’s-tears (UK), scientific name Coix lacryma-jobi, also known as coixseed, tear grass, hato mugi, adlay or adlai, is a tall grain-bearing perennial tropical plant of the family Poaceae. The cultivated variety Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen is harvested as a cereal crop, has a soft shell, and is used medicinally in parts of Asia for its beneficial effects as follows:

Hypoglycemic effect

The chloroform fraction and the compounds Beta-sisterol and Stigmasterol found in the ethanol extracted from the seeds of the plant have significantly reduced glucose-induced hyperglycemia in mice subjected to tests, effect which is similar to the one of gluconeogenic enzymes.

A pilot project called “hypoglycemic effect of plants in Mexico” held under the supervision of Roman Ramos R. Alarcon-Aguilar F. Lara Saenz Flores-Lemus and JL in 1992, confirmed that hypoglycemic effect of the extract of Coix lachryma-jobi. They discovered that the shelled seeds of this plant can reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic mice.

Effects of reducing and regulating cholesterol

Studies on the polyphenolic extract of Coix Lacryma-Jobi on mice with high cholesterol showed an effective reduction in the level of cholesterol and oxidative stress.

Effects on lipid metabolism (A key factor in fighting diabetes)

A study called “The effects of Coix Lacryma-jobi in plasma, liver and lipid components of feces from mice with high cholesterol induced” conducted by Park Y, Suzuki, H., Lee YS, S. and Wada S. Hayakawa in 1988, studied the effects of plant lipid metabolism in mice. The study has shown inhibitory action on liver cholesterol synthesis, an effect that facilitates biliary excretion of triglycerides and phospholipids action accelerators in the synthesis in the liver.

Kim S.O. in the study “Anti-obesity effects of Coix lachrymal-jobi seed extract” reached the conclusion that “the treatment of the obese rats with adlay seed water extract (adlay) reduced body fat mass, body weight, serum leptin level and immune activities of NPY and LR. These results suggest that treatment of obese rats with adlay may not only regulate feeding behavior but also neuroendocrine activities.”

Huang BW, Chiang MT, YAO HT and Chiang W in the study “The effect of oily adlay on lipid plasma, insulin and leptin in mice” found that the extract of the plant decreases the level of LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins, also known as “bad cholesterol”).

Effects on gastrointestinal diseases

Coix lacryma-jobi is used in the treatment of common gastrointestinal disorders, including diarrhea and dysentery. Seeds are the most commonly used part of the plant. They are recommended for persistent enteritis and diarrhea in children. Coix lacryma-jobi is also used in the treatment of helminthiasis (infestation with intestinal parasites).

Effects on respiratory system conditions

Coix lacryma-jobi seeds are a remedy for various lung problems including bronchitis, pleurisy (water lungs), pneumonia, lung abscess, dropsy pulmonary and they are used in lung cancer.

Antineoplastic effect

 

The compounds isolated from the contents of the plant have shown anti-tumor activity attributed to the acidic fraction consists of four essential fatty acids: oalmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acid.

There have been numerous studies on the effects of the natural compounds found in the composition of this plant, with results which are promising for the pharmaceutical and natural supplements industry.

Pueraria thunbergiana, also known as Kudzu or Japanese arrowroot, is a group of plants in the genus Pueraria, in the pea family Fabaceae. They are climbing, coiling, and trailing perennial vines native to much of Eastern Asia, Southeast Asia and some Pacific islands. The name comes from the Japanese name for the plants, kuzu, which was written “kudzu” in historical romanizations.

Pueraria thunbergiana contains a number of useful isoflavones, with puerarin making about 60% of the total isoflavones content. It contains also daidzein (an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent) and daidzin (structurally related to genistein). It has shown value in treating migraine and cluster headaches and it is recommended for allergies and diarrhea. In traditional Chinese medicine, where it is known as “ge gen”, Pueraria thunbergiana is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It is used to treat tinnitus, vertigo and Wei syndrome (superficial heat).

The root of Pueraria thunbergiana is usually recommended for alleviating clinical manifestation of inner ear dysfunction and other clinical situations, including fever, gastrointestinal disorders, skin problems, headaches and high blood cholesterol.

Pueraria thunbergiana is also used for disorders of the circulatory system, such as hypertension, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), pain in the chest pains and problems of the respiratory system, such as sinus infections, simple colds or flu.

Besides its known positive hypoglicemic effect, Pueraria thunbergiana is also used to reduce menopause symptoms, muscle pain, dysentery, gastritis, diarrhea and migraines.

STUDIES

Studies have shown the cardiovascular beneficial effects of the root of Pueraria thunbergiana, as well as its anti-diabetic and lipid-lowering properties. Natural compounds occurring in the composition isoflavonoide were always used to treat problems related to high lipid levels. A recent pilot study demonstrated the effects of puerarin in the body and its ability to change the alcohol intake way.

A study performed by the cardiology department of Wuhan University People’s Hospital in China, named “puerarin attenuates high glucose and smooth muscle cell proliferation tissue induced by diabetes” showed that oxidative stress leads to the development of diabetic vascular complications. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency and functioning mechanism of the puerarin in mitigating induced smooth muscle cell proliferation amid high levels of blood sugar. The results confirmed that puerarin has a substantial contribution to alleviating negative diabetic factors mentioned above. (Paragraph taken from study)

Another study conducted by the Department of Pharmacy of the third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University in China specifies: “Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by metabolic dysfunction in specific tissues. The present study was designed to examine the potential benefits of puerarin such as hypoglycemic and hypolipemic effect on diabetic mice. (…) The results provided by this study show that blood sugar was significantly reduced following administration of puerarin while the concentration of serum insulin was increased. Moreover, puerarin contributed to the improvement of dyslipidemia. (…) These new findings demonstrate that puerarin exercises effective hypoglycemic and hypolipemic effects, which means that its antidiabetic effect is associated with increased expression of insulin and maintaining metabolic homeostasis.” (Paragraphs taken from the study)

Bilberry – herbal insulin

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is usually found in mountainous areas, especially on slopes with high humidity and moderate temperature. Bilberry is also known in English by other names including blaeberry in Scotland, whortleberry in southern England, whinberry, winberry, windberry, wimberry, myrtle blueberry and fraughan. In several other European languages its name translates as “blueberry”, and this may cause confusion with the related plants more usually known as “blueberry” in American English, which are in the separate section Cyanococcus of the genus Vaccinium. The bilberry is native to Europe including the British Isles, while the blueberry is native to North America.

Bilberry – hypoglycemic effect

Bilberry is known for its antidiabetic properties and the fruit and its leaves have been used for centuries to relieve the symptoms of diabetes. In a study of 685 Italian nutritionists, bilberry was ranked fourth on the list of herbal remedies recommended to improve blood sugar control.

Lowering the blood sugar level helps the prevention and control of type 2 diabetes, a condition highly prevalent and caused by insufficient insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cells. Type 2 diabetes is associated with high levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, dyslipidemia and is accompanied by a high risk of occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and vision problems.

Bilberry’s hypoglycemic effect of interference is mediated by the action of enzymes, especially alpha-glucosidase, and also the effects on insulin secretion and glucose transport. It was found that anthocyanidins stimulate insulin secretion and pancreatic beta cells, with cyanidin and delphinidin (the anthocyanidins predominant in bilberry) demonstrating the strongest effect among all the anthocyanidins tested.

Obesity is a strong factor in creating a predisposition to type 2 diabetes. The polyphenols found in bilberry help prevent obesity by inhibiting the digestive enzymes such as lipase, thereby reducing fat absorption.

The combination of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic effect of bilberry brings long term benefits, notably for people with type 2 diabetes, with many studies done on this type of disease proving that.”

Paragraphs taken from the works of:
1. A Cignarella, Nastasi M, Cavalli E, L. Puglisi “Myrtillus L leaves capacity of lowering lipid levels, a traditional diabetes treatment of dyslipidemia in rats” 1996
2. Ghosh D., Konishi T anthocyanidins and rich extracts of “Anthocyanidins: their roles in diabetes and eye function” Asia Pac. J. Clin. Nutr. 2007

“Bilberries are one of the richest natural source of anthocyanidins. These polyphenolic components give these fruits high antioxidant properties, which are considered the key factor for their health benefits. Apart from bilberries being generally known to improve eyesight, their exceptional effects in lowering the blood sugar and lipid level, as well as their anti-inflammatory properties have also been demonstrated. The anthocyanidins found in bilberries manage to practically create a defensive wall in defending the body from oxidative stress.

Therefore, bilberries have great potential in the treatment and prevention of symptoms of inflammation, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia or high levels of oxidative stress, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, senile dementia and related diseases. The antimicrobial effects of these fruits have also been discovered.

Anthocyanidins, unlike other bioflavonoids are fully absorbed by the body.” (Information taken from Alternative Medicine: Clinical and biomolecular aspects, 2nd Edition)

 

Anticarcinogenic and genoprotective effects

“One in three people receives a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives. The treatment of cancer is very difficult and most often unsuccessful. Cancer is a disease caused by mutations in the key genes controlling the development and distribution of cells. Damage to DNA increases the likelihood of these mutations, so any supplement or bioactive component that protects these destructive agents or repairs this damage is a potential anticarcinogenic agent.” (Paragraph taken from Collins AR Oxidative damage of DNA , antioxidants and cancer – Bioeseuri. 1999; 21: 238-46.)

Cardioprotective effects

Worldwide, cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death. The major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases are obesity, diabetes, hypertension, disturbances in lipid levels and high levels of uric acid. High oxidative stress is also one of the factors that contributes to these diseases, with inflammation as a key factor. Atherosclerosis, the main factor in illnesses of this type, is an inflammatory process due to oxidative stress damage to the vascular endothelium. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of anthocyanidin are relevant in the cardioprotective effects of bilberry. Antihypertensive effects, lipid lowering, hypoglycemic and anti-obesity also are cardioprotective.

(Paragraph from the works: Libby P, Ridker P.M, Maseri A. Inflammation and atherosclerosis. Blood circulation. 2002; Zafra-Stone S, Taharat Y, Bagchi M, Chatterjee A, Vinson J.A, Bagchi D. Antocianidins from bilberry: the undiscovered antioxidants, men health and disease prevention. 2007)

Anti-inflammatory effects

Inflammation is the body’s self-protection mechanism, but chronic inflammation increases the level of oxidative stress and supports the development of many age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Many studies show that anthocyanidins, phenolic components predominantly found in bilberries, have anti-inflammatory effects. (Paragraph taken from Dreiseitel A, Schreier P Oehme A – Inhibition of the proteasome activity of anthocyanidins. 2008.)

Eye protection effects

The usage of bilberries for eyes disorders and to improve vision has a long history. There have been numerous studies on the effects on cataract, retinopathy, macular degeneration and night vision. Many of these studies have shown positive effects, such as improved retinal abnormalities, increased capillary resistance, slowing the progression of myopia and improving night vision.

Neuroprotective effects

Growing older, which leads to cognitive decline is common and unstoppable. Myocardial infarction, due to either hypertension or thrombosis, is a leading cause of death or disability. The vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects of bilberries have a significant contribution in preserving cognitive and neuromotor functions and in reducing the risk of myocardial infarction. Furthermore, neural tissues, including the retina, are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acid. The antioxidant effect of the anthocyanidins found bilberries in protecting these places prone to oxidation preserves the functions of the brain and retina.