HYPOGLYCAEMIC AND HYPOCHOLESTEROLAEMIC EFFECT OF MORINDA CITRIFOLIA(NONI) SYRUP ON FEMALE NIDDM SUBJECTS BY

READER AND ADDITIONAL HEAD , DEPARTMENT OF HOME SCIENCE , QUEEN MARYS COLLEGE, CHENNAI - 4

DR CHANDRA VENKATASUBRAMANIAN & K.PRIYA

Introduction Diabetes mellitus is emerging as one of the main threats to human health. The prevalence of this condition and its mortality rate has increased from five percent to 20 percent. India is reported to be the world capital for Diabetes mellitus.

Certain foods have functional properties which are beneficial in controlling the blood sugar levels. In India herbal plants used for Diabetes mellitus have shown to possess anti diabetic property Morinda Citrifolia (NONI) known as the Indian Mulberry has been used for food and medicinal purposes for more than 2000 years.

The Indian mulberry fruit (NONI) contains

phytochemicals, organic acids, terpenes, sterols, glycosides, amino acids, anthroquinones, phenolic compounds and alkaloids High amount of calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium Due to its high nutritient content the fruit is used as a health drink throughout the world.

Noni syrup is considered important due to its unique

Therapeutic Antiviral and Anti tumour Anti helmintic, Analgesic and Hypotensive potential Anti inflammatory and immune enhancing Hypocholesterolaemic and Hypoglycaemic effect

Thus the present study was carried out to find out its Hypoglycaemic and Hypocholesterolaemic effect on selected middle aged female Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) subjects.

Methodology
Hundred middle aged female NIDDM subjects were randomly selected and their nutritional status was assessed by anthropometry, biochemical examination and diet survey Biochemical parameters such as FBS,PPBS, HBA1C and Lipid profile were recorded. Only co operative subjects were selected for the study Eight subjects each formed the experimental group (those who were administered the NONI syrup)and control group (those who were not administered the NONI syrup)

The Criteria used for the selection of the study subjects were

Women in the age group of 35 to 55 years Fasting blood glucose >130 mg/dl Serum total cholesterol > 230 mg/dl Should be co operative for entire study period

Should donate blood at the beginning and end of the study period (60 days).

The experimental group was given 30 ml of NONI syrup in two equal doses of 15 ml each in the morning before breakfast and at bedtime before dinner. This is the standard dose prescribed by Dr P.I. Peter in his Monographs on NONI, 2008.

This study was planned for 90 days and conducted for a period of 60 days only from december 2007 to february 2008

Periodic visits by the researcher was taken up to ensure that the subjects under study adhered to the dietary regimen and were taking NONI syrup regularly. The anthropometric measurements such as height and weight were measured and the blood sample was drawn from the selected subjects on 0 day and day 60 of the study period.

Results and Discussion

Anthropometric measurements of experimental group
Anthropometric measurements Experimental Group 0 Day Mean S.D
67.25 13.49

Experimental Group 60th Day Mean S. D

64.75 13.69

t Value

Weight

1.832 **

Body Mass Index

27.21 5.75

26.20 5.85

11.769** **Significant at one percent level

Results and Discussion

Anthropometric measurements of Control group
Anthropometric measurements Control Group 0 Day Mean S.D Control Group 60th Day Mean S. D t Value

Weight

74.13 10.64

74.80 11.48 1.132

NS

Body Mass Index

30.69 5.01

30.97 5.00

1.288

NS

NS not significant

Statistical analysis revealed that when comparing the weight and Body Mass Index of experimental and control groups, there was a highly significant lowering of weight and Body Mass Index of the experimental group as compared to the control at one percent level.

Blood parameters (glucose and HBA1C) of the experimental group

Blood parameters Experimental group 0 Day 165.71 21.66 Experimental group 60th Day 120.25 19.83 t Value

Fasting blood glucose(mg/dl) Post prandial blood glucose(mg/dl) HBA1C

8.348**

269.25 28.01

171.13 21.81

22.294**

8.14 0.86

7.18 0.65

7.773** **Significant at one percent level

Blood parameters (glucose and HBA1C) of the Control group

Blood parameters
Fasting blood glucose(mg/dl) Post prandial blood glucose(mg/dl) HBA1C

Experimental group 0 Day

74.13 10.64

Experimental group 60th Day

74.8 11.48

t Value

1.251 NS

30.69 5.01

30.97 5.27

0.068 NS

8.44 0.79

8.44 0.71

0.729 NS NS not significant

Statistical analysis revealed that when comparing the mean fasting blood glucose, post prandial blood glucose and HBA1C values of the experimental and the control group, there was a highly significant lowering of the above in the experimental group as compared to the control at one percent level.

Serum lipid profile of experimental group

Blood parameters Experimental group 0 Day Experimental group 60 Day t Value

Serum total cholesterol (mg/dl)

Serum triglyceride (mg/dl) HDL cholesterol (mg/dl) LDL cholesterol (mg/dl) VLDL cholesterol (mg/dl)

248.25 17.98

195.50 15.84

9.254**

285.75 48.85 47.13 9.49 140.50 20.51 56.88 9.98

190.73 23.27 47.88 9.28 109.50 18.72 38.13 4.55

6.678** 0.513 NS 3.870** 6.180** **Significant at one percent level

Serum lipid profile of Control group

Blood parameters Control group 0 Day Control group 60 Day 255.98 21.21 t Value

251.50 18.00 Serum total cholesterol (mg/dl) Serum triglyceride (mg/dl) 298.25 53.58

0.361 NS

300.33 44.27

0.488 NS

HDL cholesterol (mg/dl)

LDL cholesterol (mg/dl) VLDL cholesterol (mg/dl)

33.42 9.66

33.81 7.26

2.861 NS

158.38 20.26

166.63 57.58

1.754 NS

59.75 10.67

60.00 8.72

0.557 NS Not significant

Statistical analysis revealed that in the experimental group there was a highly significant reduction in the serum total cholesterol, serum triglyceride, LDL and VLDL cholesterol at one percent level as compared to the control group

Conclusion Thus it can be concluded that Morinda Citrifolia/NONI/Indian Mulberry syrup is a very good Hypo glycaemic and hypocholesterolaemic agent.

Thus it can be confidently stated that when the effect of NONI is so statistically sound for short term studies then how mind blowing the results should be for long term studies of six months or so

Thank you