Green amaranth holds potential as a natural cure for diabetes

Researchers from Al Shifa College of Pharmacy in India have found that green amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus) has the potential to be used as a natural remedy for diabetes. Green amaranth has been used as a folk medicine for treating diabetes in southern parts of India.

• In the study, which was published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, the researchers examined the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of the leaf extract of green amaranth in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.
• They orally gave the mice green amaranth leaf extract at doses of 200 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and 400 mg/kg for a period of 14 days.
• They measured the blood glucose levels of mice on the first, fourth, seventh, and 15th day after orally giving green amaranth leaf extract.
• Then, they assessed the effects of the green amaranth leaf extract on serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein, antioxidant potential, and histopathological changes.
• The results revealed that both doses of green amaranth leaf extract significantly reduced blood glucose levels and significantly decreased hyperglycemia-associated oxidative damage.
• The green amaranth leaf extract also improved serum biochemical parameters associated with diabetes.

Overall, the findings of the study suggest that the leaf extract of green amaranth can potentially be used as a natural remedy for diabetes, supporting its use as an anti-diabetic folk medicine.

To read more stories on natural treatment for diabetes, visit DiabetesScienceNews.com today.

Journal Reference:

Balasubramanian T, Karthikeyan M, Muhammed Anees KP, Kadeeja CP, Jaseela K. ANTIDIABETIC AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIALS OF AMARANTHUS HYBRIDUS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS. Journal of Dietary Supplements. 4 July 2017; 14(4): 395-410. DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2016.1265037