Gardenia Fruit Still A Hot Diabetes Topic

Filed in archive Research on July 21, 2006

We first discussed this here about two months ago: an extract of a fruit found on the popular gardenia plant that has been used in Chinese medicine seems to help treat Type 2 diabetics . Researchers now say that a chemical found in the plant does indeed reverse pancreatic dysfunctions that contribute to Type 2 diabetes.

The team discovered that Gardenia extract contains the chemical "genipin." Previously known for its ability to cross-link proteins, they now find that the chemical also blocks the function of the enzyme called uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) through another mechanism. In both animals and humans, high concentrations of UCP2 appear to inhibit insulin secretion from the pancreas and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Study coauthor Chen-Yu Zhang's familiarity with traditional Chinese medicine led the team to consider the extract of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis fruits. Pancreas cells taken from normal mice secreted insulin when treated with the extract, they found, whereas the cells of mice lacking UCP2 did not. The results suggested that the extract worked through its effects on the UCP2 enzyme.

"When I first saw the results, I was in disbelief," Lowell said. "I didn't think we could ever be that lucky." However, blinded repetition of the initial experiments confirmed the results every time, he said.

This is the latest in a strong trend of natural treatments sought by diabetics, including Bitter melon and cinnamon. Could this be where the future of diabetes research is going?