Periwinkle, or Catharanthus roseus, is commonly used as a folk medicine for diabetes. This tradition is especially strong in Ayurvedic medicine. This flowering herb is frequently referred to as Madagascar periwinkle. Always consult a health care provider before trying a new herb, especially if you have a health condition or take medication.
Traditional Medicine
Traditional diabetes remedies with periwinkle use a water decoction of the leaves or the whole plant. Recipes vary. In India, for example, you use seven leaves at a time. In the Cook Islands, 18 leaves are boiled in a kettle full of water. In the West Indies, the plant's roots are infused in whiskey.
Animal Studies
Some animal studies on periwinkle as a diabetes treatment, such as a 2003 study published in "BMC Complimentary and Alternative Medicine," appear promising. This study on rabbits concludes that periwinkle can reduce blood-sugar levels, which seems to confirm the plant's traditional use for treating diabetes, according to lead author Srinivas Nammi. Other animal studies produce similar results, such as 1999 and 2001 studies published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." The 1999 and 2001 studies examined the effects of periwinkle on rats.
Effects
Periwinkle lowers blood-sugar levels in both normal animals and animals that are diabetic, reports Nammi. This suggests that it likely promotes enhanced secretion of insulin, which is hormone in your body that is responsible for controlling blood-sugar levels, according to Nammi. However, more research is needed before such a theory can be confirmed. It is possible that periwinkle works by improving glucose utilization by your tissues.
Considerations
While animal studies have shown positive results, and the history or traditional use is strong, using periwinkle to treat diabetes has not been supported with clinical trials involving humans as of 2008, according to the "National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine," by Rebecca Johnson and Steven Foster. Substances that appear effective and safe in animal studies don't always produce the desired effects in humans.
References
- "Diabetes Research"; Glycaemic Effects of Traditional European Plant Treatments for Diabetes. Studies in Normal and Streptozotocin Diabetic Mice; Swanston-Flatt SK, et al.; 1989
- "BMC Complimentary and Alternative Medicine"; The Juice of Fresh Leaves of Catharanthus roseus Linn. Reduces Blood Glucose in Normal and Alloxan Diabetic Rabbits; Srinivas Nammi, et al.; 2003
- "National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine"; Rebecca Johnson and Steven Foster; 2008
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; A Comparative Evaluation of Some Blood Sugar Lowering Agents of Plant Origin; R.R. Chattopadhyay; 1999
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Effect of an Antidiabetic Extract of Catharanthus Roseus on Enzymic Activities in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats; S.N. Singh, et al.; 2001
