The Review of Diabetic Studies,2004,1,3,145-149.
Sutherlandia is an old South African herbal remedy traditionally used for the treatment of stomach problems and internal cancer. The extract, which is mainly produced from the leaves, is reported to have anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells . More recently, preparations made from the plant have even been described as having antioxidant and antiinflammatory potentials . The existence of these properties obtrudes the question of how this extract may be utilized in the treatment and management and eventually in the prevention of diabetes. The data on this question is still limited at present, but further studies have been conducted to reveal the active ingredients and its functions in the organism to explain why the plant has been used for generations to improve the health of people suffering from a spectrum of ailments [2-4]. Despite the lack of clinical studies in diabetes, this article aims to collect and evaluate the existing findings of Sutherlandia’s possible contribution to the treatment of diabetes.