Diabetes-fighting potential spotted in culinary herbs

Date: Jul-24-2014 Food scientists have discovered that the popular culinary herbs rosemary, oregano and

marjoram contain compounds that may have the potential to manage type 2 diabetes in a similar

way to some currently prescribed drugs.

Elvira de Mejia, a professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and colleagues report their findings in the

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The authors point out, in view of the fact type 2 diabetes affects over 8% of Americans and

costs the nation around $175 billion a year, there is a need for as many ways to tackle the

disease as possible.

While some people can manage the disease with changes to diet and increasing physical

activity, and others do so with medication to keep blood glucose in check, not everyone can stick

to changes in lifestyle or afford the prescription drugs, they add.

Herbs may offer an alternative way to keep glucose in check

Researchers found that certain herbs, such as rosemary, contain compounds that may have the potential to manage type 2 diabetes naturally.

The researchers note that recent studies have shown herbs may provide an alternative,

natural way to keep glucose in check, so they decided to take a closer look.

In their paper, they describe how they investigated the properties of Greek oregano

(Origanum vulgare), marjoram (Origanum majorana), rosemary (Rosmarinus

officinalis), and Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens).

They prepared extracts of these plants obtained from greenhouse-grown and commercially

purchased dried forms and examined their ability to inhibit two enzymes - one called DPP-IV (also

calld DPP-4) that plays a role in insulin secretion, and another called PTP1B that is

involved in insulin signaling.

These enzymes have been identified as targets of drugs for managing diabetes. For example, the

drugs sitagliptin and metformin are medications in the DPP-4 inhibitor family. However, searching for inhibitors of PTP1B is

proving more challenging.

Prof. de Mejia and colleagues found that the greenhouse-grown herbs contained more polyphenols

and flavonoids than the commercial, dried versions.

Compounds in rosemary, oregano, and marjoram showed ability to inhibit enzymes

They also found that extracts of greenhouse-grown rosemary, Mexican oregano, and marjoram were the best inhibitors of DPP-IV, while extracts from the commercial, dried versions

were the best inhibitors of PTP1B.

Further analysis revealed a number of individual compounds contributed to these inhibitory

effects.

The team calls for more studies to understand the role of these compounds in reducing the risk

of type 2 diabetes in humans.

In January 2014, Medical News Today reported a clinical trial that found traditional Chinese herbal medicines may halt

progress of type 2 diabetes. The researchers said the results show Chinese herbal medicines

hold promise for slowing the progression from prediabetes to an official diabetes diagnosis.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

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Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.