A Beneficial Role of Rooibos in Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sasaki, M. and Nishida, N. and Shimada, M.

Molecules (2018) 23:

DOI: 10.3390/molecules23040839

Abstract

In a rapid increase in cases of diabetes mellitus worldwide, there has been interested in the use of plant-derived polyphenols as nutraceuticals to prevent the onset and progression of diabetes mellitus and its associated complications. Aspalathus linearis, commonly known as rooibos, is a rich source of uncommon glycosylated plant polyphenols with various critical health-promoting properties, including the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aimed to examine these effects by meta-analyzing the current evidence in diabetic rodent models. Peer-reviewed studies written in English from two databases, PubMed and Embase, were searched up to 28 February 2018. Studies reporting blood glucose levels in diabetic rodents with and without receiving rooibos extracts or their major phenolic compounds are included. Twelve studies enrolling 88 diabetic rodents treated with rooibos extracts or their polyphenols and 85 diabetic control males reported blood glucose levels. The pooled effect size was -0.89 (95% CI: -1.44 to -0.35) with a substantial heterogeneity (I² = 67.0%). This effect was likely to be modified by type of rooibos extracts and their polyphenols and treatment period. Blood glucose levels were significantly lower in diabetic rodent models treated with the phenolic compound rich in rooibos extracts, PPAG.

Citation

Sasaki, M., Nishida, N., & Shimada, M. (2018). A Beneficial Role of Rooibos in Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Molecules, 23(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23040839 Animals, Male, Rats, Humans, Mice, meta-analysis, Sample Size, Phytotherapy, Blood Glucose/*drug effects, Aspalathus/*chemistry, blood glucose levels, Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*drug therapy/metabolism, diabetic rodent models, Plant Extracts/*administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacology, Polyphenols/administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacology, rooibos extracts

Keywords

• Animals
• Male
• Rats
• Humans
• Mice
• meta-analysis
• Sample Size
• Phytotherapy
• Blood Glucose/*drug effects
• Aspalathus/*chemistry
• blood glucose levels
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Experimental/*drug therapy/metabolism
• diabetic rodent models
• Plant Extracts/*administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacology
• Polyphenols/administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacology
• rooibos extracts