Evaluation of single and associated botanicals on glucose tolerance in glucose-induced hyperglycemic mice

SUMMARY 
Nutraceuticals can be used in addition to conventional treatments to improve glycemic control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Morus alba, Ilex paraguariensis, and Chromium picolinate, alone and in association, on glucose tolerance in glucose-induced hyperglycemic mice. Male CD1 mice were treated for 6 weeks with Chromium picolinate (0.8 mg/kg) (A), Ilex paraguariensis (1000 mg/kg) (B) and Morus alba (50 mg/kg) (C), following these combinations: A; B; C; A + B + C; A + B; A + C; B + C. The control animals were administered with the vehicle only. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was carried out in mice 4 and 6 weeks after the start of treatment with Chromium picolinate, Ilex paraguariensis and Morus alba, alone or in combination, or by the administration of vehicle (CMC 1%) in the control group, 24 h after the last daily administration.
The complete mixture A + B + C reduced the glycemic values recorded in animals 60 min after glucose administration compared to the control group values and the B + C mixture showed a significant prevention of the glycemic peak at 30 min after 4 weeks of treatment. The combination of A + B + C induced the best effect, preventing the glycemia increase at 60 min after 6 weeks of treatment. In conclusion, the nutraceutical resulted effective for use in the prevention of diabetes mellitus.

Impact statement
The synergic effect of a nutraceutical containing all three components Morus alba, Ilex paraguariensis, and Chromium picolinate, at 1000 mg of dosage, could be effective for use in the prevention of diabetes mellitus.