Pterocarpus marsupium extract found to help lower blood glucose in diabetic rodents

22 Feb 2018 --- Pterocarpus marsupium extracts help lower blood glucose and HbA1c levels, increasing the levels of the hormone insulin in diabetic rats. This is according to a recently published study in the Journal of Dietary Supplements. Manufactured by Sami Labs (the manufacturing arm of Sabinsa Corporation), these extracts contain water-soluble C-glycosidic components and lower oxidative stress and inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, IL-6 (and its mRNA) in diabetic hepatic tissue. 

Histological studies supported the biochemical measures, Sabinsa reports. Lipid profile improved considerably for the diabetic rats that received Pterocarpus extracts. Overall very supportive evidence was obtained in this paper for the pharmacological actions of Pterocarpus marsupium extract for normalizing blood sugar levels in diabetic rats.

The results reinforce the clinical trial results published earlier by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR – a research institute supported by the Government of India).

According to the American Medical Association diabetes is prevalent in about 9.4 percent of the North American population. Sedentary lifestyles and food choices act in concert to increase diabetic risk factors and incidence.

Pterocarpus marsupium water-soluble extracts from the Indian Kino tree have been traditionally used for control of blood sugar in Ayurvedic medicine. 

For centuries an Ayurvedic method of controlling diabetes involved drinking a water extract of Pterocarpus obtained either by soaking pieces of the wood in water overnight or utilizing a tumbler carved from wood from the Indian Kino tree filled with water. 

The company reports it will continue to expand traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern research, increasing access to time-tested remedies for the benefit of human health.

Sami Labs, which manufactures and markets phytonutrients and standardized herbal extracts, specialty fine chemicals and organic intermediates used in the nutritional, pharmaceutical and food industries, in October inaugurated a second Continuous Extraction Plant to meet demand for Curcumin C3 Complex. 

With increasing research into biological functions and activities of curcumin, another area of curcumin biology which is gaining a lot of attention is its metabolites. Shaheen Majeed, CEO of Sabinsa spoke to NutritionInsight at Vitafoods Asia 2017 about curcumin and other trending nutritionals.