Anti-diabetic activity mechanisms

Diabetic patients have reduced antioxidant defences and suffer from an increased risk of free radical-mediated diseases such as coronary heart disease. EC has a pronounced insulin-like effect on erythrocyte membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase in type II diabetic patients (Rizvi and Zaid, 2001). Tea polyphenols were shown to possess anti-diabetic activity and to be effective both in the prevention and treatment of diabetes (Choi et al, 1998 Yang et al, 1999). The main mechanism by which tea polyphenols appear to lower serum glucose levels is via the inhibition of the activity of the starch digesting enzyme, amylase. Tea inhibits both salivary and intestinal amylase, so that starch is broken down more slowly and the rise in serum glucose is thus reduced. In addition, tea may affect the intestinal absorption of glucose. 

Azadirachla indica A Juss (Meliaceae) Leaves (India) Possible mechanism of anti-hyperglycemic activity of Azadirachla indica leaf extract in diabetic and normal rabbits was studied [129]. 

Low-grade inflammation is closely associated with the metabolic syndrome and is an accepted new cardiovascular risk factor. Reductions in postprandial glucose excursion by treatment with acarbose in patients with type 2 diabetes have shown to reduce the activity (p = 0.045) and nuclear localization (p = 0.02) of the proinflammatory transcription factor NFkB, suggesting a mechanism by which the anti-inflammatory effects of acarbose may be mediated [8]. This mechanism would be consistent with reductions in the level of coagulation factors seen with acarbose treatment. For example, acarbose has been shown to reduce the level of fibrinogen in patients with type 2 diabetes (p = 0.013 vs. placebo) [42] and serum C-reactive protein levels in individuals with IGT (p < 0.01 vs. placebo) [43]. We found a significant reduction in postprandial leukocyte excursion another indicator... 

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