Salacia (Salacia reticulata)
Salacia reticulata has a long history of use in Ayurvedic and traditional Indian medicine for addressing conditions like excessive fat accumulation (medoroga) and elevated blood sugar (madhueha). It has also been utilized in Japan as a dietary supplement to aid in the management of diabetes and obesity. The use of Salacia reticulata extract has garnered increasing attention in recent years for several reasons, including the growing prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes, the need for safe and effective treatments and dietary options to help regulate blood sugar and lipid levels, and the fact that Salacia extracts exhibit various mechanisms of action related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, studies involving animals, in vitro systems, and human subjects suggest that Salacia extracts are generally very safe.
How Salacia Helps Manage Blood Sugar
Salacia as a Carbohydrate Digestion Inhibitor: Carbohydrate blockers are agents that work by inhibiting enzymes necessary for the breakdown of carbohydrates. Specifically, Salacia targets alpha-glucosidase, found in the brush border of the small intestine, and pancreatic alpha-amylase. Pancreatic alpha-amylase is responsible for breaking down polysaccharides into oligosaccharides in the small intestine, while intestinal alpha-glucosidase, located on the intestinal cell membranes, hydrolyzes oligosaccharides, trisaccharides, and disaccharides into glucose and other monosaccharides. By inhibiting these enzymes, Salacia reduces the rate at which complex carbohydrates are digested, resulting in less glucose being absorbed into the bloodstream.
Clinical Study Findings:
✓ One of the earliest clinical investigations into the blood sugar-lowering effects of a water-based extract of Salacia reticulata demonstrated its effectiveness in controlling the rise in blood sugar levels after meals (postprandial hyperglycemia).
✓ Another study, designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, involved individuals with borderline type II diabetes. The results showed a significant decrease in blood glucose levels in the group receiving Salacia reticulata extract (SRE) compared to the control group.
✓ In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study, 51 individuals with type II diabetes who consumed Salacia reticulata tea for 3 months exhibited significantly lower levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c or HbA1c) compared to the placebo group.
Salacia's Role in Cholesterol Management Clinical studies have indicated that Salacia extract has beneficial effects on cholesterol levels, showing a reduction in plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol, along with an increase in HDL cholesterol in numerous clinical trials.
Safety Profile Many researchers have reported no evidence of harmful effects in conjunction with biochemical studies involving the administration of Salacia extracts to animals. Human clinical studies have also indicated a high level of safety for Salacia.
Recommended Intake 250-500 mg per day for adults.
Advantages of our Salacia Extract
- Salacia extract standardized to contain key bioactive compounds.
- Water-soluble grades are available, making them suitable for use in beverages and functional drinks.
- Each batch is tested for its ability to inhibit alpha-glucosidase activity.