Antidiabetic Action of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Leaves Powder on Type II Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Type II diabetes is a common metabolic disorder that is specified by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin action. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a medicinal plant (leaves, flower, and seeds) used traditionally as antidiabetic. This study is designed to investigate the short-term antidiabetic action of alfalfa leaves powder in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus. 12 volunteers suffering from type II diabetes were undertaken besides 12 healthy individuals. The subjects were divided into four groups including healthy control, diabetic control, which received an only meal, and the third and fourth groups were healthy and diabetic subjects which received alfalfa leaves powder within the meal. A standard test meal was supplemented with 8 g of alfalfa. The results showed that alfalfa leaves significantly (P = 0.03) reduces blood sugar 2 h after meal from 344.4 mg/dl to 300.75 mg/dl in the diabetic subject, in addition to the elevation of serum insulin levels (P = 0.02) at 30 min and elevation further creased (P = 0.06) at 120 min. This finding suggested that alfalfa leaves could be applied as a therapy against Type II diabetes.

Impact of Sprouting under Potassium Nitrate Priming on Nitrogen Assimilation and Bioactivity of Three Medicago Species

“…As antidiabetic agents, the leaves of Medicago have been used traditionally to reduce plasma glucose levels in diabetic subjects [ 45 , 46 ]. In this investigation, the accumulation of nitrogen compounds enhanced by KNO 3 priming increased the antidiabetic activity of Medicago sprouts extracts, since the GI decrease sharply mainly in Medicago interexta compared to others sprouts in response to KNO 3 priming.…”

The Antioxidant Effect of Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa) Ethanolic Extract against Mercury Chloride (HgCl2) Toxicity in Rat Liver and Kidney: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study

“…In consideration of the fact that oxidative stress induced by exposure to environmental pollutants such as mercury may lead to kidney and liver poisoning, researchers believe that antioxidant compounds can play a protective role against these pathological conditions [ 7 ]. Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., is one of the most famous traditional medicinal plants used to cure and prevent many diseases [ 8 ]. Alfalfa contains vitamins (A, B1, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K), amino acids, sugars, proteins, minerals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Al, B, Cr, Co, Mn, Mo, Se, Si, Na, Ca, P, K, and Mg), and other nutrients.…”

“…Alfalfa contains vitamins (A, B1, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K), amino acids, sugars, proteins, minerals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Al, B, Cr, Co, Mn, Mo, Se, Si, Na, Ca, P, K, and Mg), and other nutrients. Due to its richness in vitamins and phytoestrogens, this plant is used as a food additive in several countries [ 8 ]. Phytochemical studies indicated that this plant contains a variety of secondary metabolites including flavonoids, alkaloids, phytoestrogens (coumestrol, daidzein, genistein, and pyocyanin), and coumarins as potent antioxidants [ 9 , 10 ].…”

Trans-differentiation of mouse mesenchymal stem cells into pancreatic β-like cells by a traditional anti-diabetic medicinal herb Medicago sativa L

“…It also stimulates insulin secretion from the islets of healthy and diabetic people if taken with meal. 22 Despite the traditionally known hypoglycaemic activity of alfalfa both in animals and humans, so far, only a few investigations have been carried out to prove this issue. In the present study, in vitro trans -differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into pancreatic β-like cells (insulin-producing cells; IPCs) under the influence of alfalfa flower and leaf extract was investigated for the first time.…”