A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA (HEMPEDU BUMI) ON SERUM PROTEIN C, PROTEIN S ACTIVITY AND FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS
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Date
2011
Authors
SULAILA, BASIAM
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Background and Objectives
Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) show enhanced activation of the blood
coagulation system and decrease level of natural anticoagulant such as protein C and
protein S. This is believed to contribute to the high incidence of premature
atherosclerosis attributable to myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease and
peripheral vascular disease in diabetic patients. Andrographis paniculata (Hempedu
bumi) has been well known to have blood sugar lowering properties in diabetes patients
and has been used by local Malaysians as an alternative to current oral hypoglycaemic
agents. With the benefit of its blood sugar lowering properties it is hoped that
Andrographis paniculata may also increases level serum protein C and protein S in
diabetic patients, thus reducing the risk of atherosclerotic disease. This study was
conducted to determine the changes in fasting blood sugar levels and to assess the
changes in serum protein C and protein S activity following oral administration of
Andrographis paniculata among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Hospital Universiti
Sains Malaysia (HUSM) Diabetic Medical Clinic.
Methodology
This is an open-labelled, randomised treatment versus control study which was
conducted among type 2 diabetes mellitus patient on follow up at the Hospital
Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) Diabetic Medical Clinic from August 2010 till
November 2010. A total of thirty four subjects were recruited in this study. Of this, 17
were randomly given the study medication; two tablets each containing 250 mg of
Andrographis paniculata for two weeks duration while the other 17 patients were
allowed to continue with their previous medication without any alteration. Fasting blood
glucose (FBG), serum protein C and protein S, blood samples were taken at baseline
and after two weeks intervention for both groups.
Results
A total number of 34 patients were involved in this study. The mean age was 55.2 ± 9.8
years. The baseline HbA1c was 9.2% ± 2.4 % in both groups. The mean fasting blood
sugar during pre intervention in the control group was 8.6 mmol/L ± 3.7 while in
treatment group is 9.1 mmol/L ± 5.0 and post treatment, the mean fasting blood sugar
was 8.3mmol/L ±2.9 and 9.3 mmol/L ± 4.0 respectively. The mean of protein C in the
pre intervention for control group was 117.2 %± 17.3 and in the treatment group was
125.1 % ± 21.3. Post intervention mean protein C in the control group was 121.1 % ±
25.4 and in the treatment group is 125.9 % ± 18.9. The mean protein S in the pre
intervention for control group was 202.4 % ± 128.0 and for treatment group is 135.4%
± 30.1 while in the post intervention mean for control group was 208.3 % ± 129.5 and
in the treatment group 134.1 % ±25.3. The mean difference of fasting blood sugar,
protein C and protein S between pre and post intervention for both groups were
statistically not significant.
Conclusion
Our study demonstrated that generally the blood sugar control among type 2 diabetic
patients is still poor with mean HbA1c of 9.2 % ± 2.4. There were no significant
changes in mean serum fasting blood glucose, protein C and protein S for pre and post -
treatment of oral administration of 500 mg of Andrographis paniculata for two weeks
duration in the treatment group when compared to control group. These findings were
probably related to inadequate dose of Andrographis paniculata since there was no
study of bioequivalence in this study and also inadequate study duration to produce
desirable effects in this study.
Description
Keywords
Internal Medicine