Salacia oblonga's therapeutic uses
Salacia oblonga is a natural plant traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, primarily for managing diabetes. Its bark has been employed to address various health issues, including diabetes, diarrhea, fever, arthritis, gonorrhea, and skin diseases. Modern research suggests that Salacia oblonga may mimic the action of the diabetes medication acarbose, which slows carbohydrate absorption and helps regulate blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that supplementation with Salacia oblonga can lower post-meal blood sugar and improve glycemic control in individuals, particularly those with type 2 diabetes.
In addition to its diabetes-related uses, Salacia oblonga is also being explored for its potential benefits in weight management, inflammation reduction, and asthma treatment, although conclusive evidence remains limited. Preliminary research indicates that Salacia oblonga may offer some protective effects against diabetes-related complications, but further studies are needed to substantiate these claims. Generally considered safe, Salacia oblonga may cause side effects similar to other alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, such as gas and cramping. However, information about its safety in certain populations, like pregnant or nursing women, is still lacking. Overall, while interest in Salacia oblonga's therapeutic potential is growing, more research is required to fully understand its efficacy and safety.
Salacia oblonga's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Diabetes
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Complications of diabetes, weight loss, asthma
Overview
Salacia oblonga has a long history of use in the traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine system. Its bark has been used to treat diabetes, diarrhea, fever, arthritis, gonorrhea, and skin diseases.
Therapeutic Dosages
A typical dose of S. oblonga is 2.5 to 5 grams (g) daily of the whole herb, or a comparable amount as extract. The root bark is the part of the plant used.
Therapeutic Uses
Since the late 1990s, S. oblonga has undergone modern research that has, to a certain highly preliminary extent, substantiated its traditional reputation as a treatment for diabetes and obesity. S. oblonga may work similarly to the standard diabetes drug acarbose, used in type 2 diabetes. Acarbose inhibits the intestinal enzyme alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme responsible for helping the body digest carbohydrates. When alpha-glucosidase is inhibited, carbohydrate absorption is slowed, thereby reducing the rise in blood sugar that follows a meal. Studies have indicated that supplementation with S. oblonga helped lower blood sugar after eating and increased glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients. Although scientific evidence is far more limited, S. oblonga has also been suggested as a weight management tool, to reduce inflammation, and to treat asthma.
Scientific Evidence
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in 2005 evaluated the effects of S. oblonga extract taken at a dose of 1,000 milligrams (mg) daily. In this study, forty-three healthy people were given a high-carbohydrate beverage with or without addition of the herb. The results showed that when the herbal extract was included, the normal rise in blood sugar and insulin following consumption of the beverage was significantly decreased. Additional evidence collected in this study (breath hydrogen levels) supported the hypothesis that S. oblonga works by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase.
Another double-blind study compared the effectiveness of various doses of S. oblonga extract: 0, 500, 700, or 1,000 mg daily. Again, participants were given a high-carbohydrate beverage. The results in these thirty-nine people showed that the highest dose, but not the lower doses, significantly improved postmeal blood sugar and insulin levels. This type of “dose-related” effect, where higher doses have a greater effect, tends to bolster the confidence researchers can place in the results of a study.
However, neither of the studies described above involved people with diabetes. In the late 2010s, research on the benefits of supplementation with S. oblonga for people with type 2 diabetes began to emerge. A 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed benefits for type 2 diabetes patients. A 2016 study showed that when patients took S. oblonga along with their diabetes medications, they saw improvements in blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity. Further research is necessary to determine whether S. oblonga is actually a useful treatment for people with this condition.
Aside from effects on carbohydrate absorption, some evidence weakly hints that S. oblonga might inhibit the enzyme aldose reductase. In theory, this effect could mean that use of the herb might help prevent certain complications of diabetes, such as cataracts, peripheral neuropathy, and retinopathy. However, the evidence to support this possibility remains far too preliminary to rely upon at all.
S. oblonga has been marketed for preventing type 2 diabetes as well as for aiding in weight loss. However, there is only emerging evidence that it offers either of these benefits.
Though preliminary research has looked into S. oblonga’s effectiveness on itching skin, gonorrhea, joint problems, asthma, and weight loss, far more research is necessary to confirm these benefits.
Safety Issues
S. oblonga is believed to be relatively safe. Some evidence suggests that S. oblonga does not damage deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Studies in rats have shown a good safety profile. In human studies, the primary side effects seen are identical to the side effects of standard alpha-glucosidase inhibitors: gas and cramping. Maximum safe dosages are not known for pregnant or nursing women or for people with severe liver or kidney disease.
Bibliography
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Heacock, P. M., et al. "Effects of a Medical Food Containing an Herbal Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor on Postprandial Glycemia and Insulinemia in Healthy Adults." Journal of the American Dietetic Association, vol. 105, 2005, pp. 65-71.
Kushwaha, Priya S., et al. "An Updated Review on the Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Clinical Trials of Salacia Oblonga." Pharmacognosy Reviews, vol. 10, no. 20, 2016, pp. 109-114, doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.194046.
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Matsuda, H., et al. "Antidiabetic Principles of Natural Medicines. IV. Aldose Reductase and Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors from the Roots of Salacia oblonga Wall. (Celastraceae): Structure of a New Friedelane-Type Triterpene, Kotalagenin 16-Acetate." Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin (Tokyo), vol. 47, 2000, pp. 1725-1729.
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Williams, Jennifer A., et al. "Extract of Salacia oblonga Lowers Acute Glycemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 86, no. 1, 2007, pp. 124-130, doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/86.1.124. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
Wolf, B. W., and S. E. Weisbrode. "Safety Evaluation of an Extract from Salacia oblonga." Food and Chemical Toxicology, vol. 41, 2003, pp. 867-874.