title: Effect of supplementation of traditional medicinal plants on blood glucose in non-insulin-dependent diabetics: a pilot study.
abstract: The effect of supplementation of a powdered mixture of three traditional medicinal plants-bittergourd, jamun seeds, and fenugreek seeds-in raw and cooked form on blood glucose was studied in 60 non-insulin-dependent male diabetics. The patients were divided into two groups of 30 each. The patients of group I were given the raw powdered mixture in the form of capsules; the patients of group II were given this mixture in the form of salty biscuits. Daily supplementation of 1 g of this powered mixture for a 1.5-month period and then a further increase to 2 g for another 1.5 months significantly reduced the fasting as well as the postprandial glucose level of the diabetic patients. A significant decrease in oral hypoglycemic drug intake and decline in percentage of the subjects who were on hypoglycemic drugs were found after the 3-month feeding trial. It was concluded that 2 g of a powdered mixture of traditional medicinal plants in either raw or cooked form can be successfully used for lowering blood glucose in diabetics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutrition, College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India. dranitakochhar@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kochhar
authors.forename: Malkit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagi
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003890:Desiccation; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008297:Male; D029775:Momordica; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011208:Powders; D012639:Seeds; D029910:Trigonella
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D011208:Powders