This data confirms the use of Momordica charantia fruit in the treatment of autoimmune type 1 diabetes. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Effectiveness of Antihyperglycemic Effect of: Implication of T-Cell Cytokines.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017 ;2017:3707046. Epub 2017 Nov 28. PMID: 29317893
Rufine Fachinan
Background/Objective: We investigate the effect of antidiabeticfruit juice on T cells' differentiation, through plasmatic cytokine quantification in type 1 diabetic rats (T1D).
Methods: Malerats were rendered diabetic by the injection of five low doses of streptozotocin. Then, animals were treated withfruit juice for 28 consecutive days. Plasmatic levels of Th1 interleukin- (IL-) 02 and interferon- (IFN-), Th2 (IL-4), and regulatory (IL-10) cytokines were determined in rats.
Results: We observed that fruit juice induced a significant decrease in blood glucose of T1D rats. Besides, the concentrations of IL-2 and IFN-significantly increased while those of IL-4 and IL-10 diminished in diabetic rats compared to control animals. Interestingly, after treatment withfruit juice, IL-4 and IL-10 levels significantly increased in diabetic rats, while IL-2 and IFN-concentrations decreased, suggesting a Th2 phenotype in these animals. Phytochemical analysis of the fruit juice revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, and coumarins, compounds which possess antioxidant activity.
Conclusion: This study shows thatfruit juice, by lowering the hyperglycemia, induced a shift of proinflammatory Th1 phenotype in T1D rats towards a favorable anti-inflammatory Th2 status. These effects might be due to the presence of antioxidant compounds in the juice and confirms the use of this plant in the treatment of autoimmune type 1 diabetes.