Journal of Medicinal Food
Wainstein Julio, Landau Zohar, Dayan Yosefa Bar, Jakubowicz Daniela, Grothe Torsten, Perrinjaquet-Moccetti Tania, and Boaz Mona. Journal of Medicinal Food. February 2016, 19(2): 133-140. doi:10.1089/jmf.2015.0090.
Published in Volume: 19 Issue 2: February 8, 2016
Author information
Julio Wainstein,1 Zohar Landau,1 Yosefa Bar Dayan,1 Daniela Jakubowicz,1 Torsten Grothe,2 Tania Perrinjaquet-Moccetti,2 and Mona Boaz3,4
1Diabetes Unit, E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel.
2Frutarom Switzerland Ltd., Wadenswil, Switzerland.
3Department of Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
4Epidemiology and Research Unit, E. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel.
Manuscript received 24 July 2015
Revision accepted 10 November 2015
Revision accepted 10 November 2015
ABSTRACT
Purslane extract (PE) is derived from Portulaca oleracea
L., a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for its antidiabetic
properties. This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was
designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PE in improving glucose
control, blood pressure, and lipid profile in adults with type 2
diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with a single oral hypoglycemic agent
at baseline. Subjects were randomized to treatment with three capsules
of PE/day or a matched placebo. Change from baseline to the week 12
end-of-follow-up visit measures of glucose homeostasis, hemodynamics,
and lipid profile was compared by treatment assignment. In addition,
these measures were evaluated in a subgroup of “responders,” defined as
patients whose week 12 HbA1c was lower than baseline values, regardless
of treatment assignment. This group was further assessed in subgroups of
baseline oral hypoglycemic treatment. A total of 63 participants were
treated with either PE (n = 31, 11 females, mean age 52.4 ± 7.9 years) or matched placebo (n
= 32, 11 females, mean age 58.3 ± 10.8 years). In the total cohort,
systolic blood pressure declined significantly more in the PE group than
the placebo group: −7.5 ± 5.0 versus −0.01 ± 0.3 mmHg, P <
.0001. In the responders' subgroup, HbA1c declined significantly more in
the PE group than the placebo group: −0.8% ± 0.4% versus −0.6% ± 0.5%, P
= .03. Few adverse events were reported. These were mild and did not
differ by treatment assignment. PE appears to be a safe, adjunct
treatment for T2DM, significantly reducing systolic blood pressure in
the total cohort and HbA1c in the subgroup of responders.
