This 'insulin plant' might be effective in treating diabetes

The University of Tokyo in Japan, in its recent findings, discovered a plant that can prove to be very effective in the treatment of diabetes. This medicinal plant is commonly known as an 'insulin plant' in India. Meanwhile, Rajaram Tripathi, director of Maa Danteshwari Herbal Group, has started working towards the production and promotion of this plant.

Raipur: In today’s fast-paced life, everyone is living a sedentary lifestyle, skipping exercise and consuming unhealthy food. The culmination of all of these has given rise to several ailments, with diabetes being one of them.

Diabetes is a condition where the body cells become resistant to insulin and due to the unavailability of insulin the body doesn’t take up the glucose into the cells to provide energy, and hence excess blood glucose remains in the blood making one diabetic.

It is one of the leading causes of death in India and ironically India currently represents 50% of the world’s diabetic burden giving it the name - 'Diabetes capital of the world'.

Tokyo University of Japan, in its research, has discovered a plant that can prove to be very effective in the treatment of diabetes. This medicinal plant is commonly known as an 'insulin plant' in India.

The research shows that the leaves of this plant contain a chemical that is potent to induce the release of insulin from the pancreatic cells present in the human body.

Diabetes reduces insulin production in a body making the patients depend upon insulin injections. Research by the University of Tokyo has found that the extract of the leaves of this plant is effective in reducing blood glucose levels in the body.

Cultivation of 'insulin plant' in Chhattisgarh

Rajaram Tripathi, the director of Bastar's Maa Danteshwari Herbal Group, keeping in view the research going on at the international level, has started working towards the production and promotion of this plant.

He has sown more than 10,000 insulin plants on his farm and has tied up with the country's big drug manufacturing company. Rajaram Tripathi told ETV Bharat that the plant can prove to be a magical cure to diabetes. He mentioned that chewing on one fresh leaf of the insulin plant or consuming 1 teaspoon of the dried leaf powder daily helps in regulating blood glucose levels in persons with diabetes.

Botanical name: 'Chamaecostus cuspidatus'

The botanical name of this plant is 'Chamaecostus cuspidatus'. Around 250 insulin plants have also been planted in Himachal Pradesh. The study concluded that Corosolic acid present in the green leaves induces insulin production and thus controls hyperglycemia in the blood.

However, several types of research are ongoing and it is advisable that patients should consult their doctors before consuming the leaves of this plant.