Moringa Oleifera Leaf Increases Insulin Secretion after
Single Dose Administration: A Preliminary Study
in Healthy Subjects
Pimjai Anthanont MD*, Natchagorn Lumlerdkij BSc**,
Pravit Akarasereenont MD**,***, Sathit Vannasaeng MD*, Apiradee Sriwijitkamol MD*
Affiliation :
* Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital,
Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
** Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
*** Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Herbal medicine has long been used as an alternative medicine for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus
(T2DM). Recently, Moringa oleifera (MO or ma-rum in Thai) leaf has been widely used in T2DM patients. Several studies
in diabetes rat model have shown that MO had effect on glucose metabolism. However, study in humans is lacking.
Objective : Examine effects of MO on plasma glucose and insulin secretion.
Material and Method: Ten healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study (mean age 295 years; BMI 20.61.5 kg/m2;
FPG 815 mg/dl). After an overnight fast and every two weeks, subjects received an oral dose of MO at increasing dosages
of 0, 1, 2, and 4 g. Plasma glucose (PG) and insulin were collected at baseline and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, and 6 hours after
each MO dosage administration. Insulin secretion rate was measured using area under the curve (AUC) of insulin and AUC
of insulin/glucose ratio.
Results : After doses of 0, 1, 2, and 4 g MO, mean plasma insulin increased (2.30.9, 2.71.0, 3.31.4, and 4.11.7 μU/ml,
respectively) despite there being no differences in mean PG (776, 785, 796, and 795 mg/dl, respectively). AUC of
insulin was greater after high-dose MO (4 g) than after baseline or low-dose MO capsule (1 g) (24.03.5 vs. 14.51.8 or
16.12.0, respectively; p = 0.03), while there was no difference in AUC of glucose. Accordingly, insulin secretion rate
represented by AUC of insulin/glucose ratio after high-dose MO was significantly increased by 74% (p = 0.041), as compared
with that of baseline.
Conclusion : We concluded that high-dose (4 g) MO leaf powder capsules significantly increased insulin secretion in healthy
subjects. These results suggest that MO leaf may be a potential agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Further studies of
MO in patients with T2DM are needed.
Keywords : Blood sugar, Herb, Hypoglycemic drug, Moringa oleifera
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