title: Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC. as an adjuvant treatment for type-2 diabetes mellitus: a non-controlled, pilot study.
abstract: Type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a highly prevalent disease with significant morbidity and mortality around the world. However, there is no universally effective treatment, because response to different treatment regimens can vary widely among patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the use of the powdered dried leaves of Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC. (Myrtaceae) is effective as an adjuvant to the treatment of patients with type-2 DM. Fifteen patients were enrolled in a pilot, non-controlled study, and received E. punicifolia for 3 months. After treatment, we observed a significant decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin, basal insulin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, C-reactive protein, and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. There were no changes in fasting and postprandial glycemia. The compounds myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-xyloside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside, phytol, gallic acid, and trans-caryophyllene present in the powdered dried leaves of E. punicifolia may be responsible for the therapeutic effect. In conclusion, the powdered leaves of E. punicifolia are promising as an adjuvant in the treatment of type-2 DM and deserve further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 14049-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Simone
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Bruna Cestari
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.forename: Silvia Helena
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Taleb-Contini
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Duó
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bartolomeu
authors.forename: Fernando B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Honorato
authors.forename: Edson Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Ana Maria Soares
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D027842:Syzygium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin
keywords: herbal medicine; hypoglycemic agents; myrtaceae; phytotherapeutics