Aralia root bark extract, glipizide work better in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong University College of medicine in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China suggest that use of Aralia root bark extract together with glipizide can better reduce HbA1c and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The root bark of Aralia has been known to have high amounts of bioactive components that improve glycemic control and lipid status. 

In the trial, 148 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were given either glipizide or glipizide along with Aralia root bark extract (ARBE) for eight weeks.

Both groups of patients had levels of HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose (2-h PPG) decreased significantly compared with baseline.  

The combinational therapy decreased glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) more significantly, compared with the group receiving glipizide alone.  The combo therapy also resulted in a more significant reduction in total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), particularly LDL-C.

In the group receiving the Aralia root bark extract, reduction in HbA1c was significantly correlated with changes in triglycerides and LDL-C.

The trial concluded "In patients with T2DM (type 2 diabetes mellitus), combination therapy with glipizide and ARBE resulted in moderately lowering HbA1c and LDL-C levels compared with glipizide alone."

Liu XH, Li XM, Han CC, Fang XF, Ma L.  Effects of combined therapy with glipizide and Aralia root bark extract on glycemic control and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.  J Sci Food Agric. 2014 Jul 17. (David Liu)