Insulin plants
Insulin plants Introduction:
Insulin plants : With lot of lifestyle changes, lack of physical exercise and food habits there are lot of disorders and disease affect people with all ages. One among those health condition is diabetes. Diabetes is a metabolic disease which increases sugar level in blood.
In most cases of diabetes, pancreas does not produce enough insulin hormone which is responsible for turning the food we eat into energy. In this scenario, glucose level in the blood cannot be regulated and there will be weight gain which may lead to obesity and other related illness.
There are lot of treatment for diabetes including insulin injections. But in this topic, we are going to see about insulin plant, which is commonly used for diabetes.
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Insulin plants |
Insulin plants Origin:
Chamaecostus cuspidatus is commonly known as Fiery costus. It originates from South America and belongs to the family Costaceae. It is recent introduction to India and commonly known as insulin plant.
It is a perennial plant and herbaceous in nature. It grows upright for about 2 to 5 feet. Leaves of this plant are spirally arranged fleshy and smooth.
The bloom of this plant is orange in color. They appear like cone heads in the branch tip. The flowers are bright which is a main reason insulin plant is grown as a ornamental plant.
Health benefits of Insulin plants:
Apart from the treatment of diabetes, there are few health benefits of insulin plant. Many research are still going on about the plant and its properties. But here few health benefits of insulin plants from the studies that are done before.
1.Anti-microbial property :
Insulin plant exhibits anti-bacterial property. Recent study has found that gram positive bacteria that were tested shown more sensitivity to the plant extracts than the gram-negative bacteria.
The stem and root extracts shown more inhibition zone (no bacterial growth)
Some bacteria that shown inhibition to this plant are as follows,
Gram positive bacteria: Micrococcus lactis, Bacillus cereus
Gram negative bacteria: Salmonella, Pseudomonas aerogenes
It is also used to treat the candidiasis of the hair and nail.
Also, insulin plant has anti-fungal property as per the recent findings.
2.Sugar controller :
Chamaecostus cuspidatus is naturally a sugar controller.
It contains carosolic acid which is triterpenoid. This component really plays a vital role in controlling the glucose level in the blood.
It opens a new path for insulin to enter the cells and reduces the diabetic related complications.
Carosolic acid stops the glucose production and maintains the blood glucose level.
It also corrects the lipid profile of our body.
3.Decrease fat and cholesterol level:
Apart from controlling the sugar level and lipid profile, insulin plant also breaks down toxins and fat.
Blood pressure is regulated as it plays a crucial role in reducing the cholesterol. Hence reducing the risk of cardiovascular related ailments.
4.Healing the kidney related ailments:
The study on extracts of fiery costus has stated that it has diuretic effect (help in getting rid of salts and water in our body).
Kidney stones softens with the intake of the plant and stimulates easy urination, as it also balances clearance of sodium and potassium salts.
It improves excretion rate of fluids and toxins from kidney which is helpful for the organ to function efficiently.
5.Anticancer and anodyne property:
These properties are striking health benefits of insulin plant. Extracts of Fiery costus has anti-cancer and anti-proliferative property which showed ability to inhibit the cancer cells.
The extract reacts against A549 and HT 29 cells which are lung carcinoma and human colorectal adenocarcinoma epithelial cell lines respectively.
Anodyne property causes soothing effect and capable of reliving pain. It helps to reduce sensitivity of nervous system.
Usually, the paste of insulin plant is used to relieve the pain.
6.Anti-inflammatory property:
Leaves of this plant are good for skin, by giving elasticity.
When inflammation happens in the heart muscles and airways of lungs, it is treated with the extracts of insulin plant to reduce the inflammation.
It reduces the risk of asthma and bronchitis.
7.Improves digestion process:
Insulin plant acts as a prebiotic, which stimulates the growth of good bacteria in gut and aids in digestion.
It enhances the adsorption nutrients form the food and acts as a lubricant for intestines. This plant has high level of fructose which enhance the work of colon system and ease out excretion process.
8.Antioxidant property:
When oxidation takes place, it produces free radicals which causes adverse effects to our body.
Insulin plant has antioxidants such as quercetin, a flavonoid and diosgenin, a Phyto steroid sapogenin. They reduce stress and destroys free radicals.
9.Other benefits:
Taking one leaf of insulin plant cures fever, which widely used in treatment of ayurveda. It is also used in treating the skin disease.
Flowers of insulin plant have nutritional values.
Roots are used as purgative and used to cure cough, skin disease and to expel worms in intestine.
Insulin plant’s rhizome is rich in starch and fiber and contains antispasmodic and diuretic properties.
Conclusion of Insulin plants:
Insulin plant has unique properties and pharmaceutical properties which makes it unavoidable. Also, the availability makes it easy to access.
It can be grown in our homes as ornamental plant which has so many benefits. It can be consumed raw or as powder, extract. Insulin plant’s leaves are used in making tea which acts natural sweetener that has its own health benefits.
But before the intake of the plant’s parts, we should always consult a doctor. It is also advised lactating mothers and pregnant women to avoid taking insulin plant at nay format.
There are still lot of research going on regarding the function, property and usage of insulin plant. Hope in future it will be a path breaking element in the treatment of diabetics in many other ways too!
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