Tulasi controls complications in diabetics

Syed Akbar
Hyderabad: Tulasi has always been recognised for its unique
health properties, and now a team of biotechnologists from Guntur has
proved that it is also useful in controlling complications related to
diabetes.

Diabetic complications often turn out to be quite dangerous if not
attended to in their initial stages. The complications may relate to
the heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and feet. Using extract obtained
from Tulasi the biotechnologists team from Vignan University in Guntur
successfully treated diabetic rats and prevented the common
complications associated with diabetes.

Earlier studies have pointed out to the blood sugar (glucose) reducing
properties of Tulasi in diabetics, and its ability to fight the damage
caused due to ionising radiation. But the Vignan study for the first
time proves that Tulasi possesses properties that can prevent
complications related to diabetes.

The research was conducted by Dr G Muralikrishnan of Vignan University
and co-researchers SK Pillai and F Shakeel. They fed the rat model
with aqueous extract of Tulasi or Ocimum sanctum once daily for 30
days. Earlier, they induced diabetes in the rats using streptozocin.

Once diabetes developed in the rats, the biotechnologists fed them
with Tulasi preparation. Tulasi helped in significant reduction of
plasma level of  thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and
antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidneys.

The team which evaluated the antioxidant effects of Tulasi noted that
this Indian herb is capable of controlling complications resulting
from diabetes.

"The aqueous solution of Tulasi was orally fed to the rats for a
month. At the end of the experiment it was noticed that Tulasi has a
protective effect on vital organs including liver and kidneys in those
suffering from diabetes," the researchers pointed out.

Tulasi also fights oxidative stress which may cause harm to DNA bases,
besides damaging other protein products in the body, they noted.