Eugenia biflora Tea lowers blood sugar in diabetics but prolonged use tied to toxicity
DM2 is considered a global public health problem and evolved with the rise in urbanization which has changed lifestyles and has led to the adoption of unhealthy behavior patterns (reduction of physical activity and a high-calorie diet).
The leaves of Eugenia biflora (Myrtaceae) are traditionally used by Amazonian populations for the control of diabetes. However, a recent study suggests that E. biflora leaves have a hypoglycemic effect but can be harmful to its users due to their considerable toxicity. The study findings were published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology on April 11, 2022.
A group of Myrtaceae species, popularly known as "Pedra-ume-caá" in the Brazilian Amazon, are commonly used for the treatment of diabetes. Eugenia biflora leaves are sold in street markets and traditionally used by Amazonian peoples in the form of tea to control diabetes, diarrhoea, intestinal inflammation and bleeding. Despite its use in folk medicine, chemical and pharmacological studies with this species are still scarce. Therefore, Dr Marcos B. Machado and his team conducted a study to identify the chemical constituents and evaluate the hypoglycemic and toxic effects of the dry extract of the E. biflora leaves (DEEB).
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