Triphala improves glucose homeostasis by alleviating atherogenic lipids and oxidative stress in human Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aims: 'Triphala' constituting equal parts of three medicinal dried plant fruits Emblica Officinalis Gaertn., Terminalia chebula Retz. and Terminalia bellerica Gaertn. is an antioxidant rich Ayurvedic formulation. The present study assessed therapeutic as well as protective effects of Triphala on human subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Materials and methods: Triphala at a dose of 5 gms BD was administered to two cohorts viz., IGT, N=20 and T2DM, N=30 consecutively for a period of 12 months. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed quarterly by monitoring blood glucose and lipid levels; the protective effect by monitoring antioxidants level quarterly and DNA damage annually. Toxicity if any, to liver and kidney due to long term administration was assessed quarterly in both cohorts. Results: Continuous 'Triphala' therapy for 12 months significantly reduced blood glucose (p <= 0.001) and lipid levels (p <= 0.05) in both the cohorts. Triphala resisted oxidative stress generated during the course of hyperglycemia by significantly increasing the activity of super oxide dismutase and Catalase (p <= 0.001) and the level of reduced glutathione (p <= 0.001). Protective effect on DNA was accessed through significant reduction in the comet tail length (p <= 0.001). Conclusions: 'Triphala' ameliorated not only the oxidative stress but also normalized glucose and lipid homeostasis in subjects with impaired glucose and T2DM.