Herbal Drug For Diabetes.

Researchers have enlisted another local
plant as potent weapon in the fight
against diabetes and degenerative
diseases.
NIGERIAN and United Kingdom researchers
have discovered a promising plant for the
management of diabetes of anti-diabetic
drugs. Besides, the plant, according to
Nigerian researchers, could serve as sources
of antioxidants and bioactive compounds
for therapeutic purposes.
Commonly called ginger lily, or bush-cane,
Costus afer belongs to the plant family
Costaceae. In Nigeria, it is ukhueruoha in
Edo, mbritem in Efik, kakii-zuwaa in Hausa,
mbiritem in Ibibio, okpete, okpoto or okpete
ohia in Ibo, andura in Jukun, achikku in Tiv
and atare tete-egun in Yoruba.
Previous studies have shown that the
succulent stem is chewed as a remedy for
cough. The root decoction is administered
for the treatment of sleeping sickness and
stomachache. It is also used in the treatment
of diabetes mellitus in folklore medicine.
Researchers at the School of Biological
Sciences, University of Reading, United
Kingdo; and Faculty of Natural Sciences, Kogi
State University, Anyigba in a recent work
validated the use of Costus afer as a
hypoglycaemic (reduces blood glucose/
sugar) plant in native medicine.
According to the study published in British
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, the
plant extract did not reduce blood glucose
in fed rats, but significantly reduced blood
glucose when administered in combination
with a conventional anti-diabetes drug,
glibenclamide.
The researchers said that these effects
could be attributed to its phytochemical
constituents.
The study is titled “Evaluation of the
Phytochemical Composition and
Hypoglycaemic Activity of Methanolic
Leaves Extract of Costus afer in Albino Rats.”
Another study published in African Journal
of Biotechnology found that methanol and
aqueous extracts of Costus afer possess
anti-oxidative properties as well as
bioactive metabolites. “Thus, stem extracts
of Costus afer could serve as sources of
antioxidants and bioactive compounds for
nutrition and therapeutic purposes. ”
The study is titled “Phytochemical
constituents and antioxidant activities of
aqueous and methanol stem extracts of
Costus afer. ”
The results of the study by the researchers
from Babcock University, School of Science
and Technology, Department of Chemical
and Environmental Sciences, Ikeja, Lagos
and Redeemer ’s University, Department of
Biological Sciences, Lagos-Ibadan
Expressway, Mowe, Ogun State, showed
that aqueous extract of Costus afer with
high phenolic content showed higher
antioxidant and inhibition of lipid
peroxidative activity than methanol extract.
They concluded: “These suggest its
potential in the treatment and prevention of
various oxidative related diseases.
Therefore, stem extract of Costus afer could
be exploited as sources of free radical
scavengers and bioactive metabolites for
nutritional, medicinal and commercial
purposes.”
The researchers of the Costus afer/diabetes
study wrote: “Oral administration of the
methanolic leaf extract of Costus afer
showed a dose dependent hypoglycemic
effect as revealed. Doses of 200 mg/kg and
800 mg/kg produced significant
hyoglycemic effect in fasted normal rats by
34.22 per cent and 59.21 per cent. Oral
administration of five-mg/kg glibenclamide
(GB) also caused significant reduction in
fasting blood glucose comparable with 200-
mg/kg leaf extract (LE) but much less than
800mg/kg LE.
“Contrary to this is a rapid increase in
fasting blood glucose experienced when
glucose was co-administered with the LE.
Studies for complementarities of LE and GB
displayed positive results. Co-administration
of 400mg/kg LE and 2.5 mg/kg GB caused a
56.58 per cent and 36.84 per cent reduction
in fasting blood sugar over six hours in the
absence and presence of oral glucose
feeding respectively.
“From phytochemical analysis, it was found
that the major constituents of the extract
were terpenoids, flavonoids, phenols,
alkaloids, glycosides and tannins. Over 150
plants extracts and some of their active
principles including flavonoids are known
to be used for the treatment of diabetes.
Moreover, tannin-containing drug
demonstrated anti-diabetic activity.
Similarly, several phenolic compounds and
flavonoid possess marked anti-diabetic
activity. Possibly the insulin-like activity of
these bioactive compounds inherent in
Costus afer is responsible for its
hypoglycaemic effects.
“The bioactive agents possibly mobilised
glucose to their store while decreasing the
blood glucose level. On the contrary,
methanolic leaf extract of Costus afer
caused a rapid increase of blood glucose
level. While the explanation may be
farfetched, it could be reasoned that may be
glucose and the bioactives in the plant
material are competing for same binding
sites thereby inhibiting glucose uptake from
the blood. Positive results from the
experiments utilising both glibenclamide
and the plant extract points at the
possibility of using both in complementary
treatment of diabetes mellitus without fear
of drug-drug interaction. ”
The researchers of the Costus afer/
antioxidant study added: “Alkaloids are
known to have anti-microbial, antifungal
and anti-inflammatory effect and it also acts
as an anti-hypertensive agent. The folkloric
use of Costus afer in the treatment of sore
throat, diarrhoea, heamorrhage and wound
healing might be due to presence of
tannins. Cardiac glycosides and
anthraquinone tested positive in methanol
and aqueous extracts. Cardiac glycosides
had been reported to be effective in the
treatment of congestive heart failure and
regulation of heartbeat.
“Anthraquinones can induce laxative effect,
hence the use of Costus afer as laxative and
nervous system depressant may result from
the presence of anthraquinones. Flavonoids
and phenols were abundant in aqueous
extract than methanol extract. These are
potent water-soluble antioxidants, which
prevent oxidative cell damage suggesting
antiseptics, anticancer, anti-inflammatory
effects and mild anti-hypertensive
properties.
“Furthermore, plant phenolics are major
group of compounds acting as primary
antioxidants or free radical scavengers. The
therapeutic potential of antioxidants in
controlling degenerative diseases with
marked oxidative damage from reactive
oxygen species or free radicals have been
reported.”

Eating sweet potato to prevent cancers, diabetes

The tubers have become diet, while the leaves
are often used as animal feed. But
researchers have found that extract of the
leaves and tubers of white sweet potatoes
could be used to prevent and treat cancers
and diabetes.
SWEET potatoes may provide the next novel
drugs for cancer and diabetes. Recent study
by Japanese researchers published in
Journal of Agriculture, Food and Chemistry
indicates that the growth of human cancer
cells can be successfully suppressed with
sweet potato extracts.
A previous study had demonstrated that the
phytochemicals in sweet potato have
significant antioxidant and anticancer
activities. The antioxidant activity was
directly related to the total amount of
phenolics and flavonoids in the extracts.
Researchers suggest that the additive roles
of phytochemicals may contribute to its
ability in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation
in vitro.
Also, researchers from Austria, Italy and
Switzerland have demonstrated the
tolerability, efficacy, and mode of action an
extract of white sweet potatoes on
metabolic control in type 2 diabetic patients.
The researchers suggest that despite its
“ sweet” name, sweet potato may stabilize
blood sugars and lower insulin resistance.
Other studies have shown that the flavone
extracted from sweet potato leaf could
control blood sugar and modulate the
metabolism of glucose and blood lipid, and
decrease outputs of lipid peroxidation and
scavenge the free radicals in non-insulin
dependent diabetic rats.
India researchers have demonstrated the
cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of
sweet potato. The study published in the
International Journal of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences concluded: “On the
basis of the above results it can be
concluded that he ethanolic extract possess
significant anticancer and antioxidant
activities studied by in vitro models. The
presence of flavonoids and related phyto-
constituents may be responsible for the
activity. Further investigations are required
to find active component of the extract and
to confirm the mechanism of action. Further
studies warranted, for isolation of the
constituents responsible for the activity and
also to explore the exact mechanism of
action of the activity.”
Commonly called sweet potato, Ipomoea
batatas belongs to the plant family
Convolvulaceae. In Nigeria, it is called edia-
makara in Anaang, dankai in Berom, iyan-
ebo in Edo, bia mbakara in Efik, ba-fadamee
in Hausa, ediam-umani in Ibibio, ji-bekee or
nduku in Ibo, beke buru in Ijo-Izon, dangali
in Kanuri, dangura in Mambila, duku in
Nupe, atsaka in Tiv, imitata or ole-oyinbo in
Urhobo, anamo or odukun in Yoruba.
According to the Useful Plants of West
Tropical Africa by H. M. Burkill, the tubers
have been used for distillation to ‘tumbo
spirit’ in Nigeria. Vitamins are well
represented, particularly the yellow-fleshed
cultivars. The plant is usually a three to four
months crop, but some cultivars run to six
months. Little medicinal use is made of the
tubers. They are used in frictions on the
skin in Cote D ’Ivoire to prevent loss of
pigmentation. A purgative tisane is made
from the root with leaves of Cassia
occidentalis (Leguminosae:
Caesalpinioideae) and the bark of Bridelia
ferruginea (Euphorbiaceae) in Congo.
Bactericidal and fungicidal substances have
been isolated from the tuber and the haulm.
The young leaves are commonly eaten by
man, and leafy stems are fed to stock. They
are a good source of vitamins and minerals
especially calcium and especially in the
purple-leafed forms. They are anti-diabetic
and anti-scorbutic.
In Senegal poultices for abscesses are made
of the leaves. The leaf-sap is used on burns
in Cote D ’Ivoire, the pounded leaves are
made into an enema given to avert
miscarriage, and leaves are applied in
topical frictions to relieve intercostal pain
and in mouth-wash and gum-massage for
toothache. Toxic substances have been
reported and excessive ingestion is known
to cause diarrhoea, and even death. Some
alkaloid has been recorded in the stems and
leaves and in the roots.
The Japanese study is titled “Growth
suppression of human cancer cells by
polyphenolics from sweet potato (Ipomoea
batatas L.) leaves. ”
R. Kurata, M. Adachi, O. Yamakawa, and M.
Yoshimoto of the Department of Upland
Farming Research, National Agricultural
Research Center for Kyushu Okinawa
Region, Yokoichi, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki,
Japan found that sweet potato leaves
(Ipomoea batatas L.) contain a high content
of polyphenolics that consist of caffeic acid,
chlorogenic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic
acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-di-O-
caffeoylquinic acid, and 3,4,5-tri-O-
caffeoylquinic acid.
They wrote: “We investigated the
suppression of the proliferation of selected
human cancer cells by phenolic compounds
isolated from sweet potato leaf. The human
cancer cells used in this research included a
stomach cancer (Kato III), a colon cancer
(DLD-1), and a promyelocytic leukemia cell
(HL-60). Caffeic acid and di- and
tricaffeoylquinic acids dose-dependently
depressed cancer cell proliferation, and the
difference in sensitivity between
caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and each
kind of cancer cell was observed.
“Specifically, 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid
effectively depressed the growth of three
kinds of cancer cells, and caffeic acid had an
exceptionally higher effect against HL-60
cells than other di- and tricaffeoylquinic
acids. In attempting to clarify the
mechanism of growth suppression with the
addition of the apoptotic inhibitor N-
ethylmaleimide, we observed that the
nuclear granulation in 3,4,5-tri-O-
caffeoylquinic acid-treated HL-60 cells
suggested apoptosis induction. This effect
was confirmed by DNA fragmentation, an
increase of caspase-3 activity, and
expression of c-Jun. Growth suppression of
HL-60 cells by 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid
was determined to be the result of
apoptotic death of the cells. These results
indicate that 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid
may have potential for cancer prevention.”
According to the study by Bernhard Ludvik
of the Department of Medicine III, Division
of Endocrinology and Metabolism,
University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria;
Beatrice Neuffer of Via Livio 14, Chiasso,
Switzerland; and Giovanni Pacini of the
Metabolic Unit, Institute of Biomedical
Engineering, ISIB, National Research Council,
CNR, Padova, Italy, a total of 61 type 2
diabetic patients treated by diet were given
4 gram of extracts of white sweet potato
called Caiapo once daily for 12 weeks. Each
subject underwent a 75-g oral glucose
tolerance test (OGTT) at baseline and after
one, two, and three months to assess two-
hour glucose levels. Additionally, fasting
blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, and
triglyceride levels were measured.
After treatment with Caiapo, HbA1c
decreased significantly, whereas it
remained unchanged in subjects given
placebo. Fasting blood glucose levels
decreased in the Caiapo group and did not
change in the placebo group. A decrease in
body weight was observed in both the
placebo group and in the Caiapo group,
probably due to a better- controlled lifestyle.
In the Caiapo group, body weight was
related to the improvement in glucose
control. Two-hour glucose levels were
significantly decreased in the Caiapo group
compared with the placebo group. Mean
cholesterol at the end of the treatment was
significantly lower in the Caiapo group than
in the placebo group. No significant
changes in triglyceride levels or blood
pressure were observed, and Caiapo was
well tolerated without significant adverse
effects.
The researchers concluded: “This study
confirms the beneficial effects of Caiapo on
plasma glucose as well as cholesterol levels
in patients with type 2 diabetes. For the first
time, the long-term efficacy of Caiapo on
glucose control was demonstrated by the
observed decrease in HbA1c. Thus, the
neutraceutical Caiapo seems to be a useful
agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. ”
Phytochemical analysis sweet potato leaves
showed that they are very nutritious when
compared to vegetables such as cassava
leaves, amaranth, mushrooms, taro, and
pumpkin leaves. Sweet potatoes are
reportedly good source of vitamins A, B and
C, iron, calcium and phosphorus.
High in complex carbohydrates and dietary
fibre; deficient in protein.
An invention made from the extracts of leaf
and stems of sweet potato has been shown
to have qi and spleen invigorating effects,
cooling the blood and stopping bleeding.
Such a composition has the potential of use
for ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic
purpura), radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-
induced thrombocytopenia.
A 2006 study of commonly consumed roots
crops in the Philippines (Kamote, Ipomoea
batata; ubi, purple yam, Dioscorea alata;
cassava, Manihot esculenta; taro or gabi,
Colocasia esculenta; carrot, Daucus carota;
yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) showed
them to be rich sources of phenolic
compounds with antioxidant acitivity,
highest in sweet potato, followed by taro,
potato, purple yam and lowest in the carrot
Other results suggest the total phenolic
content was positively correlated with
radical scavenging activities of the sweet
potato leaves. Purple sweet potato
anthocyanins have antioxidative activity in
vivo as well as in vitro.
Another study has identified new
chitinolytic enzymes in sweet potato leaves.
Chitinases catalyze the hydrolysis of chitin,
the main structural component of fungal
walls and arthropod integuments. Studies
suggest it has other functions and has been
proposed to play a role in the defense
against pathogens. Chitinases are also
useful in the production of biomedical and
biotech products; used in the production of
chitooligosaccharides, glucosamines and
GlcNAc. Other applications are found in
mosquito control and pathogenic plant
fungi control.

Aloe vera, wonder drug for diabetes

SCIENTIFIC studies have proven that
aloe vera gel works better in various folks.
The effectiveness of aloe vera extract and
gel along with other herbs have shown
their potential role in correction of high
blood sugar level (hyperglycemia), wound
healing, pain relief, constipation and ulcers.
Aloe is a plant originally from Africa. The
long, green leaves contain aloe gel and a
sticky yellow residue called latex. The gel is
the part of the aloe plant used most
commonly, both topically and orally.
Various studies on oral administration and
local application of aloe vera extract/gel
have shown its potential abuse like every
other herb due to the thinking that all herbs
are safe irrespective of its mode of use, the
dose and length of usage.
Certainly, if an animal study can be
extrapolated into humans, then there is the
need for caution when taking aloe vera.
Researcher found that aloe vera extract can
be toxic to the heart muscles, if used over a
long period of time.
The 2010 study published in the African
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
involved a total of 24 male albino rats,
which were divided into four groups, one
control and three experimental.
Animal of experimental groups were
injected with aloe vera gel extract made
from fresh leaves of the plant in doses of
100, 200 and 300 mg/kg. Parameters such
as the state of the muscles of the heart and
heart beat rate of the albino rats were
determined using electrocardiograph at
different times after they were injected
with aloe vera gel extract.
They found that aloe vera gel may cause
potassium deficiency and result in irregular
heartbeat and weakness in high doses, thus
making it toxic to the heart and unsafe,
especially in people with heart disease,
kidney disease or electrolyte abnormalities.
Previously, few studies have been done on
the toxic effects of aloe gel other than
occasional allergic reactions. Also its safety
in children, pregnant or nursing women, or
people with liver and kidney disease was
not established.
But overdose of aloe latex can cause
dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, red
urine, severe diarrhea, kidney dysfunction,
and possibly death. Use for over seven
days may cause dependency or worsening
of constipation after the aloe is stopped.
Ingestion of aloe for over one year has
been reported to increase the risk of
colorectal cancer. Individuals with severe
abdominal pain, appendicitis, ileus
(temporary paralysis of the bowel), or a
prolonged period without bowel
movements should not take aloe.
There are potentials of aloe gel interacting
with conventional drugs. Aloe latex should
not be taken internally with some
antihypertensive medicines, steroids, drugs
for irregular heartbeat and drugs that cause
potassium loss.
Due to lowering of potassium levels that
may occur when aloe is taken by mouth, the
effectiveness of heart medications such as
digoxin and digitoxin and of other
medications used for heart rhythm
disturbances, may be reduced. The risk of
adverse effects may be increased with
these medications due to low potassium
levels.
In addition, aloe taken by mouth may cause
blood sugar levels to become too low,
especially if combined with blood sugar
medications.
There have been a few case reports of
acute hepatitis from aloe vera taken orally.
However, the evidence is not definitive and
the safety of aloe has not been
systematically studied.

Local plant show promise indiabetes, HIV/AIDS

Extracts of a local plant have shown great
promise in boosting immune functions
and controlling blood glucose or managing
diabetes.
RESEARCHERS have validated the folklore
uses of a local plant, Phyllanthus niruri, in
boosting the immune system against
infectious diseases such as Human Immuno-
deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and lowering of
sugar and cholesterol levels, and in the
prevention of heart diseases.
Phyllanthus niruri also known as “Chanca
pledra” belongs to the family
Euphorbiaceae. It is known as Enyikwonwa
in Ibo of the southeastern part of the
country.
Phyllanthus niruri is similar to Phyllanthus
amarus, which also belongs to the plant
family Euphorbiaceae, called oyomokeso
amanke edem in Efik, geeron-tsuntsaayee
(bird ’s millet) in Hausa, ngwu in Ibo, ehin
olobe and yin-olobe in Yoruba.
The first study titled “The Effects of
Phyllanthus niruri Aqueous Extract on the
Activation of Murine Lymphocytes and Bone
Marrow-Derived Macrophages ” was
published in Immunological Investigations.
Murine relates to a rodent of the family
Muridae or subfamily Murinae, including
rats and mice. A lymphocyte is a type of
white blood cell in the vertebrate immune
system. It has two types B and T
lymphocytes. T lymphocytes play a central
role in immune responses, carrying out a
number of effector and regulatory
functions. They represent the CD4 and CD8
count, which are markers for the immune
system.
Bone marrow derived macrophage (BMDM)
refers to a white blood cell that is generated
in a research laboratory from mammalian
bone marrow.
The researchers wrote: “Phyllanthus niruri
is acclaimed world-wide for its versatile
ethno-medicinal uses. It features in recipes
used by some herbalists to manage
different diseases, including claims of
efficacy against many life-threatening
infections, such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. In
order to understand the mechanisms and
the involvement of the immune system in
mediating these activities, the effects of the
aqueous extract of P. niruri on the
activation of murine lymphocytes and
macrophages were investigated.
“The study showed that the extract of P.
niruri is a potent murine lymphocytes
mitogen, inducing significant increases in
the expression of surface activation maker
(CD69) and proliferation of B and T
lymphocytes.
The production of interferon (IFN) and
interleukine-4 (IL-4) by P. niruri extract-
stimulated naïve splenocytes (the different
white blood cell types situated in the spleen
or purified from splenic tissue) cultures was
also significantly increased in a
concentration-dependent manner. ”
A mitogen is a chemical substance that
encourages a cell to commence cell division,
triggering mitosis. CD69 (Cluster of
Differentiation 69) is a human
transmembrane C-Type lectin protein
encoded by the CD69 gene. The activation
of T lymphocytes, both in vivo and in vitro,
induces expression of CD69.
The term “cytokine” has been used to refer
to the immuno-modulating agents, such as
interleukins and interferons. IFN-?, or type II
interferon, is a cytokine that is critical for
innate and adaptive immunity against viral
and intracellular bacterial infections and for
tumor control.
IL-4 is a cytokine that induces
differentiation of naive helper T cells. It has
many biological roles, including the
stimulation of activated B-cell and T-cell
proliferation.
The researchers concluded: “Various indices
of activation and functions murine bone
marrow-derived macrophages were
significantly enhanced by pre-treatment
with the extract, including phagocytosis,
lysosomal enzymes activity, and Tumour
Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF) release.
Phyllanthus niruri extract was also shown
to modulate nitric oxide release by
macrophages. These activities suggest that
stimulation of the immune system by the
extracts of P. niruri could be partly
responsible for the ethnomedicinal
applications in the management of
infectious diseases. ”
Phagocytosis is involved in the acquisition
of nutrients for some cells, and in the
immune system, it is a major mechanism
used to remove pathogens and cell debris.
Lysosomes are cellular organelles that
contain acid hydrolase enzymes to break up
waste materials and cellular debris.
Lysosomes are the cell ’s waste disposal
system and can break up anything.
Tumour necrosis factor (TNF, cachexin or
cachectin and formerly known as tumor
necrosis factor-alpha) is a cytokine involved
in systemic inflammation and is a member
of a group of cytokines that stimulate the
acute phase reaction. The primary role of
TNF is in the regulation of immune cells.
Nigerian researchers have also investigated
the effects of various concentrations of
aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri on
plasma glucose level and some hepato
specific markers in diabetic Wistar strain
rats.
The study was published in the Internet
Journal of Laboratory Medicine.
The lead researchers H. U. Nwanjo from the
Department of Medical Laboratory Science
Imo State University wrote: “The classes of
chemical components of the aqueous
extract of the plant were determined;
alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins were
found to be present. Acute toxicity test in
rats gave an LD50 of 516.2 mg/kg. The
name LD50 comes from toxicology, the
study of poisons. It is an abbreviation for
‘ Lethal Dose, 50 per cent’ or median lethal
dose. It gives the amount of the substance
required (usually per body weight) to kill 50
per cent of the test population.
“In this study we observed that the
administrated of aqueous extract of P.
niruri at the doses of 120 and 240 mg/kg
body weight to diabetic rats not only
caused a significant decrease in blood
glucose but also has a significant effect in
controlling the loss of body weight, which is
caused during diabetes.
“There were no significant difference in
alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), alkaline
phosphatase (ALP) activities as well as total,
conjugated and unconjugated billrubin
levels for the two experimental groups
respectively when compared with the
control group. The observations show that
the aqueous crude extract of Phyllanthus
niruri may have hypoglycaemic (low blood
glucose or low blood sugar) effect in
diabetic rats and that no evidence of
hepatotoxicity (implies chemical-driven liver
damage) of the extract was established.”
ALT is found in serum and in various bodily
tissues, but is most commonly associated
with the liver. It is commonly measured
clinically as a part of a diagnostic liver
function test, to determine liver health.
AST is similar to ALT in that it is another
enzyme associated with liver parenchymal
cells. The difference being ALT is found
predominately in the liver, with clinically
negligible quantities found in the kidneys,
heart, and skeletal muscle. AST is found in
the liver, heart, skeletal muscle, kidneys,
brain and red blood cells.
ALP is a hydrolase enzyme responsible for
removing phosphate groups from many
types of molecules, including nucleotides,
proteins, and alkaloids. The process of
removing the phosphate group is called
dephosphorylation.
Bilirubin (formerly referred to as
hematoidin) is the yellow breakdown
product of normal haeme catabolism.
Haeme is found in haemoglobin, a principal
component of red blood cells. Bilirubin is
excreted in bile and urine, and elevated
levels may indicate certain diseases. It is
responsible for the yellow color of bruises,
urine (dubious – discuss) and the yellow
discoloration in jaundice.
A lot of researchers who worked on
Phyllanthus niruri confirmed that it has
hypoglycaemic properties. It has also been
used for the treatment of other disease
conditions in various parts of the world. It
has been shown an excellent remedy of
jaundice and infective hepatitis. It is
effective in jaundice in children. The plant is
of medicinal importance for numerous
ailments like dysentery, diuretics, kidney
stones, influenza, antibacterial, anti-
hyperglycaemic and antiviral.
A lot of researchers have shown that
Phyllanthus niruri has protective action on
the different body organs especially the
liver and the kidney, and that no form of
toxicity has been associated with the usage
of this plant.
Another study published in African Journal
of Biotechnology by researchers at the
Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
concluded: “The results of this study
showed that aerial parts of P. niruri have
great potentials as anti-diabetic remedy due
to the ability of its extract to lower blood
glucose and lipid levels in diabetic rats and
suppress postprandial rise in blood glucose
levels.
These effects reduce the risk of
complications associated with diabetes. It
may additionally protect the pancreas from
further damage through antioxidant effect
and effective glycaemic control.
“Chronic use may not cause any deleterious
effect on haematological indices and body
weight. The whole extract of the aerial parts
may be more effective than the fractions
although this does not preclude the
isolation of hypoglycaemic constituents.
Studies on the effect of the plant extract on
peripheral glucose metabolism are
ongoing. ”
Researchers have also explored the
protective role of Phyllanthus niruri extract
on serum lipid profiles and oxidative stress
in hepatocytes of diabetic rats. The study
was published in African Journal of
Biotechnology by researchers at Imo State
University.
They wrote: “Diabetes mellitus has been
associated with lipid abnormalities and
oxidative stress. Some phytochemical
properties have been shown to possess
antioxidant activities, improving the effects
of oxidative stress on diabetes. This present
investigations confirmed that untreated
diabetic rats were associated with lipid
abnormalities as indicated by high level of
total and Low density Lipoprotein (LDL)-
cholesterol, that is bad cholesterol,
triacylglycerols (the main constituent of
vegetable oil and animal fats) and low levels
of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol, that is good cholesterol, and
phospholipids (are a class of lipids and are a
major component of all cell membranes as
they can form lipid bilayers), compared to
non-diabetic rats (control).
“The aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri
significantly normalised the serum lipids
levels. The study also showed that
untreated diabetic rats were subjected to
oxidative stress as indicated by
significantly abnormal activities of their
scavenging enzymnes (superoxide
dismutase and catalase) and significantly
low levels of non-enzymic antioxidants
(Vitamin C, Vitamin E and reduced
glutathione) in liver and plasma when
compared with controls and in the extent of
lipid peroxidation (increased
malondialdehyde levels) in plasma and liver
cells. The aqueous extract of P. niruri
possessed antioxidant activities as shown
by increased activities of enzymic and non-
enzymic antioxidants and decrease in
malondialdehyde levels. ”
Catalase is a common enzyme found in
nearly all living organisms that are exposed
to oxygen, where it functions to catalyse
the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to
water and oxygen.
Superoxide dismutase’s are a class of
enzymes that catalyze the dismutation of
superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen
peroxide. As such, they are an important
antioxidant defense in nearly all cells
exposed to oxygen.
Glutathione is an antioxidant, preventing
damage to important cellular components
caused by reactive oxygen species such as
free radicals and peroxides.
An antioxidant is a molecule capable of
inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules.
Oxidation is a chemical reaction that
transfers electrons from a substance to an
oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can
produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals
can start chain reactions that damage cells.
Antioxidants terminate these chain
reactions by removing free radical
intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation
reactions. They do this by being oxidised
themselves, so antioxidants are often
reducing agents such as thiols, ascorbic acid
or polyphenols.
It has been shown that although oxidation
reactions are crucial for life, they can also
be damaging; hence, plants and animals
maintain complex systems of multiple types
of antioxidants, such as glutathione, Vitamin
C, and Vitamin E as well as enzymes such as
catalase, superoxide dismutase and various
peroxidases. Low levels of antioxidants, or
inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes,
cause oxidative stress and may damage or
kill cells.
As oxidative stress might be an important
part of many human diseases, the use of
antioxidants in pharmacology is intensively
studied, particularly as treatments for stroke
and neurodegenerative diseases. However,
it is unknown whether oxidative stress is
the cause or the consequence of disease.
Lipid peroxidation refers to the oxidative
degradation of lipids. It is the process in
which free radicals “steal” electrons from
the lipids in cell membranes, resulting in cell
damage.