Chicory and Equisetum arvense plants for diabetes
- Chicory and Equisetum arvense plants for diabetes
Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders associated with chronic hyperglycemia in the blood due to defects in insulin secretion, insulin function, or both. Although the proper treatment of diabetes includes insulin injection continuously to maintain blood glucose levels, nowadays, there is an increasing interest in the use of alternative approaches for treating insulin resistance, and T2D.
Introduction
Scientists studied the traditional herbalists’ recipes and unfolded their full potential by improving the formulas and preparing the herbs in a new way. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that destroys pancreatic beta cells in producing insulin. Type 2 diabetes causes an increase in blood glucose due to decreased insulin secretion and function (Pallag et al., 2016).
Diabetes is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and complications such as neuropathy, arteriopathy, kidney dysfunctions, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney and liver failures. Although the proper treatment of diabetes includes insulin injection continuously to maintain blood glucose levels, nowadays, researchers following some natural herbs for diabetes (Pallag et al., 2016).
Although the proper treatment of diabetes includes insulin injection continuously to maintain blood glucose levels, nowadays, there is an increasing interest in the use of alternative approaches for treating insulin resistance, and T2D. Chicory significantly reduces blood sugar and glucose fluctuations, increases metabolism due to inulin in type 2 diabetes patients with excess weight. Equisetum arvense is one of the most effective plants for blood sugar, stabilizing metabolism, and hormone production. Tuberous roots are rich in inulin, enabling glucose utilization in the human body, and can potentially ameliorate insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients. Blueberry leaves improve insulin sensitivity and action.
Chicory
Chicory (Cichorium intybus L) is a main crop in northwestern Europe, and the chicory roots are rich in fiber inulin. A bitter drink made from chicory roots as a substitute for coffee in France and Japan, where all ages can drink the chicory root extract due to its noncaffeine components. Chicory inulin led to decreasing energy calorie intake and is a powerful substitute for dietary fat. Inulin is a fructo-oligosaccharide, a fructose polymer with b (2/1) glycosidic linkages. Inulin in chicory significantly reduces blood sugar and glucose fluctuations (Nishimura et al., 2015).
Thus, chicory has an inulin content of 150 g kg-1 fresh weight basis and 750 g kg-1 dry weight basis.
Chicory increases metabolism and weight loss; therefore, it is highly recommended for type 2 diabetes patients with excess weight. Chicory provides high vitamins B and C and boosts energy levels. The presence of high vitamins and microelements enhances immune responses. The infusion and brew of Chicory increase appetite and regulate digestive activity (Nishimura et al., 2015). In one clinical trial on type 2 diabetics women, using 10 g/d inulin for 2 months improved the concentration of fasting blood glucose, insulin, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and reduced malondialdehyde levels compared with using maltodextrin (Pourghassem Gargari et al., 2013). Also, consuming 12 g/d inulin for 2 weeks was tolerated by adults. It caused a significant improvement in bowel movements and a significant increase in Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in cases who had average fecal Bifidobacterium (García-Peris et al., 2012).
In another trial, cases who used the chicory root extract for 4 weeks showed a significant decrease in the changes of HbA1c compared with the control. No significant differences in the fasting blood glucose or insulin and total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL), High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL), triglyceride, or serum adiponectin were observed before and after consumption of chicory root extract. Inulin fructans can modulate lipid metabolism in human cases and animal models (Nishimura et al., 2015). Using 10 g inulin/d for 6 weeks in 18 cases decreased the TG and T- levels. Regarding the results, no significant differences in blood pressure were observed between groups (Nishimura et al., 2015).
The chicory root extract containing less inulin improved hyperglycemia and bowel movement (Nishimura et al., 2015). Also, oligosaccharides such as inulin improved glucose metabolism. Inulin is less susceptible to degradation by a-glucosidase. Therefore, chicory root extract gradually increased the postprandial plasma glucose. Inulin fructans cannot be digested easily by salivary and gastric juices due to b-(2/1) fructose linkages (Letexier et al., 2003).
Bioactive components of Equisetum arvense
Equisetum arvense L. belongs to the Equisetaceae family. This weed is widely spread in the northern hemisphere in fields and uncultivated land (Hegedűs et al., 2020). Horsetail has been used in ancient Greece medicine. Whole or cut, dried aerial parts, Equiseti herba, of Equisetum arvense L. used in phytotherapy (Pallag et al., 2016).
E. arvensis contains high concentrations of phenolic compounds, saponins, aconite, oxalic and malic acid, resins, tannins, pectin, flavonoid compounds, vitamin C, carotenoids and mineral (Kukric et al., 2013).
The number of bioactive components in E. arvense varies in different geographical areas. Field horsetail contains polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, dietary fibers, vitamins A, E, and C, potassium, calcium, and silicates with antidiabetic activity (Pallag et al., 2016). The total phenolic compounds in the field horsetail extract were 355.80±17.8 mg GAE/g of the dried section, depending on environmental and geographical conditions (Hegedűs et al., 2020). Also, total phenolic compounds in the n-butanol, ethyl-acetate, and water extract of Horsetail in the mountain of Zlatibor and Serbia was 96.4, 26.4, and 15.4 mg GAE/g of the dried section, respectively (Pallag et al., 2016). The total phenolic in ethanol extract was 355.80±17.8 mg GAE/g of the dried area. The high antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of E. arvense ethanol extract is directly linked to high entire phenolic content (Pallag et al., 2016).
Equiseti herbal contains inorganic compounds (especially silica), caffeic acid, flavonoids, alkaloids, and saponins (Sing et al., 2010). Flavonoids (flavones and flavonols) are generally present in a glycoside form. Flavonoids and phenolic acids, such as Gallic acid, have antioxidant activity (Asgarpanah and Roohi, 2012). Total flavonoids contents in Pharmacopeia and the Romanian Pharmacopoeia require
At least 0.3% flavonoids (Pallag et al., 2016).
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Equisetum arvense and diabetes
It is proved that Equisetum arvense is one of the most effective plants on blood sugar. In traditional medicine: Equisetum stabilizes the blood sugar level and is a hemostatic agent, inflammatory and antibacterial treatment; it stabilizes metabolism and hormone production (Hegedűs et al., 2020).
During the 6-week, blood glucose levels in the animals treated with horsetail improved compared to the STZ- DC rats. Significant improvement in glucose tolerance was only in animals treated with the 100HT horsetail compared to the control (Pallag et al., 2016). Horsetail could enhance the impaired insulin production associated with STZ treatment. All STZ-treated groups reduced plasma insulin compared to the healthy controls due to the pancreatic B-cells function (Pallag et al., 2016).
Various doses of ethanol extract from horsetail have different effects on blood glucose and insulin resistance. Even fasting plasma insulin levels were low. However, 50 mg/kg horsetail extract does not affect hyperglycemia or insulin resistance, and 200 mg/kg was not achieved. However, the 100 mg/kg significantly reduced the blood glucose and improved the insulin sensitivity in the cells (Pallag et al., 2016).
Conclusion
Although the proper treatment of diabetes includes insulin injection continuously to maintain blood glucose levels, nowadays, researchers follow some natural herbs for diabetes. Due to the side effects and temporary use of chemical drugs, herbal, natural, and chemical drugs are recommended for people with diabetes. However, more scientific studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of herbal and natural supplements on diabetes cases.
References
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