Dietary supplement for diabetics developed

MANILA, Philippines - Researchers at the Department of Science and Technology’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) recently discovered a new cure for diabetes using fruits and vegetables.

The ITDI researchers — Teresita Bonifacio, Rosalinda Torres, Merle Villanueva, Fe Sison, Perla Cuasay, Yolanda Paras, Nilda Rabang, Romulo Estrella, Eduardo Lanto and Elvira Arrogante — have developed a dietary supplement using extract of malunggay (Moringa oleifera), duhat (Syzygium cumini) and saba (Musa sapientum).

“For this study, the dietary supplement developed from a combination of the ethanol extracts of Moringa Oleifera, Syzygium cumini and Musa sapientum proven to be as effective blood sugar lowering agent,” they said.

The researchers said the blood sugar lowering effect is attributed to the presence of the bioactive secondary plant metabolites such as saponins, glycosides, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids and anthroquinones in the three plants.

The dietary supplement was subjected for blood sugar lowering test using Alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Results showed that the developed dietary supplement exhibited significant blood sugar lowering effect at 400 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) body weight comparable with the positive control Glibenclamide at 30 mg/kg body weight.

The researchers said the dietary supplement exhibited its lowering effect to the very high reading (plus or minus 600 milligrams per deciliter) of blood glucose.

“This shows that the dietary supplement works wonder toward severe hyperglycemia (high blood glucose),” they said.

The study entitled “Dietary Supplement from Moringa oleifera (malunggay), Syzygium cumini (duhat) and Musa sapientum (saba),” was one of the studies presented during the 60th annual convention of the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science (PHILAAS) at the Manila Hotel yesterday.

Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in the Philippines, according to the Department of Health.

To date, an estimated 3.36 million Filipinos are afflicted with diabetes, the DOH said.

According to the researchers, in about 20 years this number could bloat to about eight million.

“The development of a dietary supplement which is cost effective will be a great help to millions of Filipinos who are suffering from diabetes,” they said.