Traditional herbal seeds effective against diabetes: Study

A traditional Indian herb, Chandrashoor, may be effective in controlling diabetes, one of the biggest lifestyle diseases that affects 63 million people in the country, according to a research by biochemists at the Allahabad University.

The study conducted by a team led by prof SI Rizvi has provided scientific evidence of the anti-diabetic potential of Chandrashoor (Lepidium sativum) that is being used as an ayurvedic medicine for decades.

In a research paper recently published in the journal ‘Progress in Health Sciences of Poland’, the team has proved that the herb controls diabetes.

Biochemists believe that this herb holds vast potential as herbal replacement for modern drugs. It has no side-effects, controls diabetes and also stops its progression and complications.

“Use of plant-based remedies for prevention and treatment of diabetic complications over conventional therapies have received emphasis. Diabetes has no cure in modern medicine as drugs only manage the condition,” said prof Rizvi.

“My team and counterparts at the department and food technology centre of AU focused on exploring the medicinal aspects of traditional Indian medicine in dealing with diabetes and found Chandrashoor effective in management of diabetes,” he said.

During the study on rats, the researchers found that seeds of Chandrashoor given to experimentally induced diabetic rats lowered blood sugar, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase and oxidation of lipids —all parameters known to aggravate diabetes-related complications affecting vital organs.

“Modern medicines result in serious side-effects such as chemical-driven liver damage (hepatotoxicity), abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhoea and blood glucose levels falling below normal levels (hypoglycaemia),” said Neetu Mishra, a faculty member at the department of food technology and a part of the research team.

Researchers are now trying to find the scientific basis of ayurvedic medicines.

The WHO has listed 21,000 plants, which are used for medicinal purposes around the world. There are about 800 plants which have been reported to show antidiabetic potential. The present study is part of this initiative.

‘The research assumes importance since it provides a scientific validation to the use of Lepidium sativum as a therapy for diabetes,” said prof Rizvi.

“Work is on to identify and characterise bioactive compounds which provide the antidiabeitc property to Chandrashoor,” he added.