Clove extracts found to reverse elevated pre- and post-prandial blood glucose levels

Researchers from India and the U.S. conducted a pilot study to determine if the polyphenolic extract from unopened clove buds can influence glucose metabolism. The results of their study were published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• Type 2 diabetes is considered a global pandemic and is a huge contributor to the increasing incidence of serious conditions like cardiovascular disease.
• Post-prandial plasma glucose, which is measured two hours after the start of a meal, is a good indicator of the overall status of glucose homeostasis.
• According to preclinical studies, clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and the components of its essential oils, eugenol and acetyl eugenol, can regulate pathways involved in glucose homeostasis.
• The polyphenolic extract of unopened clove buds (PCE) has also been reported to influence liver function and redox status.
• To determine the effect of PCE on glucose metabolism, the researchers recruited 13 healthy volunteers and gave them supplements containing 250 milligrams (mg) PCE to be taken once a day for 30 days.
• These volunteers were divided into two groups based on their initial pre-prandial glucose levels: group I (n=7) with 100 mg/deciliter (dL) or less; and group II (n=6) with glucose levels between 101 and 125 mg/dL.
• The researchers also tested the effects of PCE on glucose uptake, hepatocyte glucose production, and carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes in vitro.
• The researchers found that PCE supplementation significantly reduced mean post-prandial glucose levels in both groups beginning at day 12 until day 30.
• PCE supplementation also decreased mean preprandial glucose levels in group II at days 24 and 30.
• Meanwhile, PCE enhanced glucose uptake in L6 myocytes and inhibited glucose production in Hep62 cells.
• In cell-free assays, PCE also inhibited a-amylase and a-glucosidase activities.

Based on these results, the researchers concluded that PCE has therapeutic utility for maintaining healthy glucose metabolism, and its potential needs to be further explored in large-scale clinical trials.

Read the full study at this link.

Journal Reference:

Mohan R, Jose S, Mulakkal J, Karpinsky-Semper D, Swick AG, Krishnakumar IM. WATER-SOLUBLE POLYPHENOL-RICH CLOVE EXTRACT LOWERS PRE- AND POST-PRANDIAL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS IN HEALTHY AND PREDIABETIC VOLUNTEERS: AN OPEN LABEL PILOT STUDY. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 07 May 2019;19(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2507-7