2003c. Insulin potentiating factor (IPF) present in foods, spices and natural products

Abstract: Control of diabetes by diet and natural products is more appropriate and economical in developing countries, hence fruits, vegetables, tea, spices and homeopathic drugs were investigated for their insulin potentiating function in glucose metabolism in rat epididymal fat cells assay. Dried flesh and seed of jamon fruit (Eugenia jambulina), fresh and dried flesh and seed of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), fresh and dried chaunga (Carulina tuberculate) and powdered fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) were extracted with 0.1 N NH OH or boiling water (1:20 w/v). Black, decaffeinated and green tea (Thea sp.) were prepared4 without milk and with milk. Sugar was not added to the tea. The supernatants of the extracts and the different prepared tea samples were used for insulin potentiation in the rat epididymal fat cells assay. Homeopathic drugs, diabene and diacure were tested for insulin potentiating activity in the above assay. Dried flesh of jamon fruit potentiated insulin 6.7 fold when boiled with water and 6.1 fold when extracted with 0.1N NH OH.4 Dried jamon seed potentiated insulin 2 and 5 fold when extracted with water and 0.1N NH OH respectively.4 Insulin potentiating activity was found in the dried seed of bitter ground but not in the fresh and dried flesh portion. Chaunga did not show any insulin potentiating activity. The water extract of fenugreek showed some activity. Black tea potentiated 5.2 fold insulin function in glucose metabolism and this activity was reduced to 3.7 fold with decaffeinating of tea. Green tea potentiated insulin 2 fold in glucose metabolism. Addition o