THE EFFECT OF DHAWALSAN-1 (CURANGA FEL-TERRAE [LOUR.]) EXTRACT VERSUS METFORMIN ON THE METABOLIC AND INFLAMMATORY CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS Research Article

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Objectives: The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) continues to rise at an exponential rate around the world as well as in South-East
Asia regions. This study compared the effect of metformin and dhawalsan-1 (Curanga fel-terrae [Lour.]) extract on metabolic and inflammatory
characteristics in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM.
Methods: In this preliminary study, consecutive sampling was used to select 24 newly diagnosed T2DM subjects to be randomly assigned into two
groups: One group received metformin 3 × 500 mg/day and another group received dhawalsan-1 extract 2 × 100 mg/day, in a double-blind fashion.
Clinical characteristics of the patients were assessed before and after the 12-week treatment period.
Results: After the 12-week treatment, in metformin group, a significant decrease was noted in waist circumference (p=0.005), fasting plasma
glucose (FPG; p=0.017), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (p=0.021), and homeostasis model of assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-B; p=0.020). In
dhawalsan-1 group, a significant decrease was noted in FPG (p=0.012), HbA1c (p=0.006), and HOMA-insulin resistance (p=0.033), and a significant
increase was noted in adiponectin (p=0.008). No significant differences were found between metformin and dhawalsan-1 group in any measured
clinical characteristic after 12 weeks.
Conclusions: This preliminary study indicated that dhawalsan-1 (C. fel-terrae [Lour.]) extract was effective in improving metabolic characteristics
and significantly increased adiponectin levels in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM. The improvement also seemed to be comparable with that of
metformin. Yet, Further larger studies are required to confirm these promising results.
Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Metformin, Dhawalsan-1 (Curanga fel-terrae [Lour.]).