Unripe Coccinia grandis Fruit have Anti-diabetes Properties The Janus Corner

Abstract

This occasional section within the journal surveys visions and achievements, often not on the main track of the developing biomedical sciences, but all relating to discoveries and developments of medicinal -both ancient and modern. What they have in common, in one way or another, is providing further background and glances around the edges of the core discipline of pharmacognosy, as it has been and continues to evolve within our times.Coccinia grandis (L.) fruit (commonly known as ivy gourd) is a component of Bengali cuisine and is also prized for its medicinal properties. The gourd is reputed to maintain a healthy digestive tract by maintaining the microbiome balance, improving metabolism and preventing renal disease.1 A recent study has confirmed that the gourd also has antidiabetic properties. 2 The authors reported that the gourd extracts had a significant impact on several markers of diabetes. The extract slowed the rise in blood glucose following an meal and decreased protein glycation thereby decreasing the level of blood advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Furthermore, the same study also reported high antioxidant capacities for the gourd extracts and correlated the antidiabetic properties to these antioxidant levels. Whilst much of the photochemistry of the gourd is yet to be determined, saponins were detected and the authors of the study linked these with the hypoglycaemic and antioxidant properties of the gourd.