<abstract> <p>Quality of dried <italic>Andrographis paniculata</italic> (Burm.f.) Nees materials is important to determine its effectiveness in traditional medicine. The present study aimed to investigate an effect of harvesting age and drying condition on andrographolide content and its consequences on antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The plants were cultivated and harvested at 90,100,115, and 127 days after sowing (DAS) prior to drying under the sun or using hot air oven at 50, 65, and 80 ℃. The results indicated that drying condition significantly influenced andrographolide content, antioxidant capacities, and antibacterial activity of <italic>A. paniculata</italic>, whereas the harvesting age had no significant impact on those parameters. The andrographolide contents ranged from 0.74–4.11% (w/w) dry weight. The highest andrographolide contents were obtained at 90 DAS/65 ℃, 127 DAS/65 ℃, and 127 DAS/65 ℃. <italic>A. paniculata</italic> extracts were found to exhibit antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacterial strains (<italic>B. cereus</italic>, <italic>M. luteus</italic>, <italic>S. epidermidis</italic>, and <italic>S. aureus</italic>), which the highest antibacterial activity was observed at 90 DAS/65℃. The used of hot air oven at 65 ℃ effectively preserved andrographolide content and antibacterial activity of <italic>A. paniculata</italic>. In contrast, drying at 50 ℃ was the preferable drying condition for antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant activities of <italic>A. paniculata</italic> extracts ranged from 3.43–26.73 and 1.93–17.28 mg Trolox/g dry weight for DPPH• scavenging activity and FRAP reducing power activity, respectively. Overall, <italic>A. paniculata</italic> is suggested to dry using hot air oven at 65 ℃ to maintain high levels of andrograhpolide and antibacterial activity. Drying using hot air oven at 50 ℃ is advised, if antioxidant activity is the main focus. Even though the harvesting age is not a key parameter, <italic>A. paniculata</italic> is suggested to harvest at 50% flowering stage onward for a better total herbage and andrographolide yield.</p> </abstract>

Background: Medical treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is not always sufficient to achieve HbA1c control. Despite the previous studies on supplementary therapies, we investigated the effects of SKT3 interventions on HbA1c level in type 2 diabetic patients. Materials and Methods:This is a three -arm randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of SKT3 meditation exercise on the change of HbA1c level among type 2 diabetic patients. The 105 voluntary patients were randomly assigned into 2 experiment groups and one control group with equal number of 35. All patients in each group still received standard medical treatment during the study for 16 weeks. In the trial, the experimental group 1 was assigned to practice SKT3 meditation exercise for 30 minutes once a day, group 2 practiced charm meditation exercise SKT1 for 30 minutes once a day and the control group received only standard medical treatment. The HbA1c level of each group was measured 3 times; at the baseline, the 8th and the 16th week of implementation. The mixed linear regression was used to analyse the change of HbA1c. Result:The results showed that the HbA1c level among SK3 was found lower than SK1 and standard treatment group with statistical significance (p < .001). Conclusion:The study showed that the practice of SKT3 meditation exercise continuously for 16 weeks had the reduction effect of the HbA1c level among the Thai type 2 diabetic patients. Hence, SKT3 should be recommended as an effective supplementary method for controlling the HbA1c.