Hypoglycemic Herbs and Their Action Mechanisms

Overview

Journal Chin Med

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2009 Jun 16

PMID 19523223

Citations 42

Authors

Hongxiang Hui

George Tang

Vay Liang W Go

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Conventional drugs treat diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity, increasing insulin production and/or decreasing the amount of glucose in blood. Several herbal preparations are used to treat diabetes, but their reported hypoglycemic effects are complex or even paradoxical in some cases. This article reviews recent findings about some of the most popular hypoglycemic herbs, such as ginseng, bitter melon and Coptis chinensis. Several popular commercially available herbal preparations are also discussed, including ADHF (anti-diabetes herbal formulation), Jiangtangkeli, YGD (Yerbe Mate-Guarana-Damiana) and BN (Byakko-ka-ninjin-to). The efficacy of hypoglycemic herbs is achieved by increasing insulin secretion, enhancing glucose uptake by adipose and muscle tissues, inhibiting glucose absorption from intestine and inhibiting glucose production from heptocytes.

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