Biography
Biography: Alex Thomas
Abstract
The incidence of diabetes mellitus is on the rise due to population growth, aging, urbanization, increasing prevalence of obesity and decreasing physical activity. Ever since the adoption of Alma Ata Declaration in 1978 by the W.H.O., there is a growing global interest in the use of plants for treating diseases. Tinospora crispa is is a medicinal herb widely distributed in Southeast Asia. The insulinotropic action of T. crispa was investigated using isolated rat islets of Langerhans or HIT-T15 B cells. When incubated with rat islets and HIT-T15 B cells, T. crispa extract caused a dose-related stimulation of basal and glucose- stimulated insulin secretion respectively. The insulinotropic effect was also demonstrated in perifused human islets, rat islets and HIT-T15 B cells. In all the three models insulin secretion rates returned to basal levels after removal of the extract. All these observations indicate physiological release of insulin by β-cells. Four human clinical trials have been conducted with T. crispa so far. Among them the only study reporting positive effect of T. crispa is the one by Sriyapai et al (2009, J Health Res 23: 125-133 ), who conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study in thirty-six patients with metabolic syndrome. They received 250 mg of T. crispa dry powder, twice daily for two months. Patients who received T. crispa powder had significantly lower fasting blood sugar and triglyceride levels. Several published studies confirm the insulinotropic action of T. crispa. Therefore, well-controlled clinical trials using therapeutically active doses of crude T. crispa powder or the extract are required.