Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2005 Sep;56(6):399-414.

Plant foods in the management of diabetes mellitus: spices as beneficial antidiabetic food adjuncts.
Srinivasan K.
Department of Biochemistry & Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute,
Mysore-570013, India.

Diet has been recognized as a corner stone in the management of diabetes mellitus. Spices are the common dietary
adjuncts that contribute to the taste and flavour of foods. Besides, spices are also known to exert several beneficial
physiological effects including the antidiabetic influence. This review considers all the available information from
animal experimentation as well as clinical trials where spices, their extracts or their active principles were examined for
treatment of diabetes. Among the spices, fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenumgraecum), garlic (Allium sativum), onion
(Allium cepa), and turmeric (Curcuma longa) have been experimentally documented to possess antidiabetic potential.
In a limited number of studies, cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), mustard (Brassica
nigra), curry leaves (Murraya koenigii) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) have been reported to be hypoglycaemic.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 16361181 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2003 Apr;49(2):87-93.

Protective effects of mustard leaf (Brassica juncea) against diabetic oxidative stress.
Yokozawa T, Kim HY, Cho EJ, Yamabi N, Choi JS.
Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sugitani,
Toyama 930-0194, Japan. yokozawa@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp

Of four fractions (CH2Cl2, EtOAc, BuOH and H2O) from mustard leaf (Brassica juncea), the EtOAc fraction showed
the strongest inhibitory effects, which were concentration-dependent, on the formation of advanced glycation end
products and free radical-mediated protein damage in an in vitro system, indicating that this fraction has a potential
protective role against diabetes and/or its complications. Based on these results, we carried out an in vivo study to
determine whether the EtOAc fraction protected against diabetic oxidative stress induced by streptozotocin. Oral
administration of the EtOAc fraction at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg body weight/d for 10 d reduced the serum levels of
glucose and glycosylated protein, implying that the impaired glucose metabolism due to diabetes had been ameliorated.
In addition, the EtOAc fraction significantly reduced the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels of serum and
hepatic and renal mitochondria. Furthermore, the elevated levels of superoxide and nitrite/nitrate were reduced in a
dose-dependent manner by oral administration of the EtOAc fraction. These findings suggest that the EtOAc fraction

from mustard leaf might be beneficial in attenuating the damage caused by oxidative stress involved in diabetes and its
complications.

Publication Types:
In Vitro

PMID: 12887153 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jul;93(1):113-6.

Brassica juncea (Rai) significantly prevented the development of insulin resistance in rats fed fructoseenriched diet.
Yadav SP, Vats V, Ammini AC, Grover JK.
Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari
Nagar, New Delhi 110049, India.

Brassica juncea (BJ; Hindi name: Rai) seeds and Murraya koenigii (MK; English names: Curry leaves) leaves, used as
food ingredients and also by diabetics in India, were assessed in a fructose-mediated non-genetic model of insulin
resistance. Feeding of fructose rich diet for 30 days resulted in rise in blood glucose by 29.4%, insulin by 101.2% and
cholesterol by 26.7% indicating development of insulin resistance. However, feeding of a fructose diet containing 10%
Brassica juncea seeds powder for 30 days significantly decreased fasting serum glucose, insulin and cholesterol levels
but did not normalize them. On the other hand, a diet containing 15% Murraya koenigii leaves powder failed to exert
any effect on these parameters. Results of the present study suggests that BJ can play a role in management of prediabetic state of insulin resistance and should be promoted for use in patients prone to diabetes.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study

PMID: 15182915 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Jun;81(1):81-100.

Medicinal plants of India with anti-diabetic potential.

Grover JK, Yadav S, Vats V.

Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari

Nagar, New Delhi-110049, India. jkgrover@hotmail.com

Since ancient times, plants have been an exemplary source of medicine. Ayurveda and other Indian literature mention
the use of plants in treatment of various human ailments. India has about 45000 plant species and among them, several
thousands have been claimed to possess medicinal properties. Research conducted in last few decades on plants
mentioned in ancient literature or used traditionally for diabetes have shown anti-diabetic property. The present paper
reviews 45 such plants and their products (active, natural principles and crude extracts) that have been mentioned/used
in the Indian traditional system of medicine and have shown experimental or clinical anti-diabetic activity. Indian
plants which are most effective and the most commonly studied in relation to diabetes and their complications are:
Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Aloe vera, Cajanus cajan, Coccinia indica, Caesalpinia bonducella, Ficus bengalenesis,
Gymnema sylvestre, Momordica charantia, Ocimum sanctum, Pterocarpus marsupium, Swertia chirayita, Syzigium
cumini, Tinospora cordifolia and Trigonella foenum graecum. Among these we have evaluated M. charantia, Eugenia
jambolana, Mucuna pruriens, T. cordifolia, T. foenum graecum, O. sanctum, P. marsupium, Murraya koeingii and
Brassica juncea. All plants have shown varying degree of hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic activity.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 12020931 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Indian J Biochem Biophys. 1995 Apr;32(2):106-8.

Hypoglycemic action of Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) and Brassica juncea (mustard): mechanism of action.
Khan BA, Abraham A, Leelamma S.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Trivandrum.

Effect of Murraya koenigii and Brassica juncea on carbohydrate metabolism has been studied using rats as
experimental animals. Both showed significant hypoglycemic action. There was increase in the concentration of
hepatic glycogen and glycogenesis, as evident from the increased activity of glycogen synthetase, and decrease in
glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis as evident from the decreased activity of glycogen phosphorylase and
gluconeogenic enzymes.

PMID: 7642200 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]