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Liver Update: Involvement of Liver in Diabetes Mellitus: Herbal Remedies.

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eMediNexus    26 November 2021

A major complication in oxidative stress disorders like diabetes mellitus (DM) remains Liver disease. DM sees a decline in carbohydrate metabolism, characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. The liver is involved in glucose or carbohydrate metabolism and is most likely to be affected in DM. 

 

DM causes deterioration in liver architecture and metabolism along with an increase in oxidative stress levels in chronic hyperglycemic states. This further leads to liver diseases/complications. Herbs have shown their potential to counteract oxidative stress disorders and their untoward complications, by acting as antioxidants. Herbs like Liquorice, Pelargonium gravenolens, Momordica charantia, Propolis from beehives, Dihar, Curcuma Longa, Tinospora cordifolia, Kangen-karyu, Parsley, Chard, Green tea Catechins and Piper sarmentosum (P.s) have been documented to have a beneficial effect on DM by improving the liver metabolism and maintaining the integrity of liver tissue in DM. 

Some important herbs/herbal compounds with their potential effects on diabetes and its liver disease as explained as-

  • Liquorice has Antidiabetic and antioxidant effects, and it decreases oxidative stress markers in the liver and other tissues.
  • Pelargonium graveolens can increase body weight, decrease oxidative stress markers and improve morphological damage in diabetic liver tissue
  • Momordica charantia possesses anti-hyperglycemic, hypoglycemic effects and improves liver glycogen concentration
  • Propolis improves the immune system and oxygen radical scavenging, it has antimicrobial, antitumor and antioxidant activities. It also improves liver function tests and liver morphology in diabetes.
  • Dihar shows anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-oxidant activities. It reduces lipid peroxidation levels in diabetic liver tissue.
  • Curcuma longa is anti-hyperglycemic and increases the antioxidant levels in the liver tissues.
  • Tinospora cordifolia reduces blood glucose levels, increases lipid peroxide levels and decreases oxidative stress markers.
  • Kangen-karyu has an anti-oxidant effect and decreases oxidative stress markers in diabetic liver tissue.
  • Parsley is an antioxidant, has anti-inflammatory properties and boosts the immune system. It also has an anti-diabetic effect, increases liver function test, and decrease lipid peroxidation level.
  • Chard possesses hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic effects, along with an antioxidant effect in liver tissue.
  • Catechins are anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, hypo-glycemic, hypolipidemic, it decreases lipid peroxidation level and oxidative stress level in liver tissue.
  • Piper sarmentosum have antioxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-atherosclerotic properties and can improve diabetic liver morphology.

Numerous studies have shown that liver diseases in DM are controllable through traditional medicines. More researches are warranted on the herbal supplement in managing diabetic liver disease.

Source: Thent ZC, Das S. Involvement of Liver in Diabetes Mellitus: Herbal Remedies, La Clinica terapeutica,2014;165(4):223-230. DOI:10.7417/CT.2014.1738

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