The antidiabetic potential of the leaves of bracted bugleweed

The bracted bugleweed (Ajuga remota Benth), a plant found from Africa up to East Asia, contains bioactive compounds that could prevent complications due to diabetes. The study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, also suggests that the plant could be used as a potential alternative to antidiabetic drugs.

• Researchers examined the antidiabetic effect of A. remota using both aqueous and ethanol extracts in a mouse model of diabetes. The plant was analyzed for its phytochemical properties.
• To induce diabetes, Swiss albino mice were treated with alloxan to get experimental animal models. During the study, the mice were treated with either an aqueous or ethanol extract. The team also took fasting mean blood glucose before and after treatment, which ran for two weeks.
• From the findings, researchers found that A. remota extracts were non-toxic under the observable condition.
• Both aqueous and ethanol extracts were also able to significantly reduce blood glucose levels at levels comparable to the reference drug glibenclamide.
• A phytochemical analysis also showed that both extracts contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and steroids – which might explain the antidiabetic activity of the extracts.

Researchers concluded that A. remota extracts were able to reduce blood glucose levels because of the presence of flavonoids with antioxidant properties.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Discover more herbs that have anti-diabetes properties at Herbs.news.

Journal Reference:

Tafesse TB, Hymete A, Mekonnen Y, Tadesse M. ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF EXTRACTS OF THE LEAVES OF AJUGA REMOTA BENTH ON ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC MICE. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2 May 2017;17(243). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1757-5