Insulin-like Biological Activity of Culinary and Medicinal Plant Aqueous Extracts in Vitro
Abstract
To evaluate the possible effects on insulin function, 49 herb, spice, and medicinal plant extracts were tested in the insulin-dependent utilization of glucose using a rat epididymal adipocyte assay. Cinnamon was the most bioactive product followed by witch hazel, green and black teas, allspice, bay leaves, nutmeg, cloves, mushrooms, and brewer's yeast. The glucose oxidation enhancing bioactivity was lost from cinnamon, tea, witch hazel, cloves, bay leaf and allspice by poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) treatment, indicating that the active phytochemicals are likely to be phenolic in nature. The activity of sage, mushrooms, and brewers's yeast was not removed by PVP. Some products such as Korean ginseng, flaxseed meal, and basil have been reported to be effective antidiabetic agents; however, they were only marginally active in our assay. Our technique measures direct stimulation of cellular glucose metabolism, so it may be that the active phytochemicals in these plants improve glucose metabolism via other mechanisms or that this in vitro screening is not a reliable predictor of hypoglycemic effects in vivo for some products. In summary, the positive effects of specific plant extracts on insulin activity suggest a possible role of these plants in improving glucose and insulin metabolism.
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Among these, cinnamon has displayed the greatest bioactivity.
“Of these substances, cinnamon has been shown to have the highest bioactivity (1).”
From Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects (2007) · cites this paper as [1]
Several spices and teas, including allspice, cinnamon, bay leaf, cloves, nutmeg, witch hazel, oregano, and black and green tea, have demonstrated insulin-like biological activity.
“Allspice, cinnamon, bay leaf, cloves, nutmeg, witch hazel, oregano, and black and green tea have been shown to have an insulin-like biological activity (1).”
From Effect of cinnamon on postprandial blood glucose, gastric emptying, and satiety in healthy subjects (2007) · cites this paper as [1]
Both in vitro and in vivo animal studies have shown insulin-enhancing or insulin-like effects after cinnamon administration.
“Both in vitro and in vivo animal studies have shown insulin-enhancing or insulin-like effects after cinnamon administration [365,366,367].”
From Effects of diet, lifestyle, Chrononutrition and alternative dietary interventions on postprandial Glycemia and insulin resistance (2022) · cites this paper as [367]
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- Authors
- Broadhurst, C. L., Polansky, M. M., & Anderson, R. A.
- Affiliations
- Agricultural Research Service (US)
- Corresponding author
- Anderson, Richard A.
- ORCID
- Broadhurst, C. Leigh
- Venue
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2000-03-01
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 849-852
- ISSN
- 0021-8561 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5118
- OpenAlex
- W2054986712
- Cited by
- 429
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 21
- FWCI
- 4.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Medicinal Plant Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Pancreatic function and diabetes
- Keywords
- insulin-like activity, plant extracts, medicinal plants, spices, cinnamon, glucose uptake, adipocytes, polyvinylpyrrolidone, phenolic compounds, antidiabetic drugs, hypoglycemic effect, glucose metabolism, tea, witch hazel, mushrooms, brewing yeast
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cells, Cultured, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Glucose, Hypoglycemic Agents, Insulin, Phytotherapy, Plant Extracts, Plants, Medicinal, Spices, Adipocytes, Magnoliopsida, Rats
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