Abstract

EVALUATION OF THE CLINICAL EFFICACY OF HEEN BOWITIYA LEAVES [OSBECKIA OCTANDRA] POWDER IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS

Balasooriya MGDN*, Karunarathna WDCK and Wickramarachchi W. J.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder with multi factorial etiologies. If it is not treated effectively and in time Diabetes mellitus produces several complications. Heen bowitiya [Osbeckia octandra] is one of the widely used endemic plants in Sri Lanka. Heen bowitiya is well known as liver tonic drug and mostly plant leaves are used. Although it is recommended for Diabetes mellitus, its hypoglycemic effect is not scientifically proved. So, this research was done in search of hypoglycemic effect of Heen bowitiya leaves powder in the management of diabetes mellitus. 30 patients were selected from the OPD of Gampaha Wikramarachchi Ayurveda hospital in irrespective of their sex, religion, occupation and habitat and they were treated with Heen bowitiya leaves powder twice a day prepared by dipping 2 spoonsful of powder in 30 ml of warm water for 15 minutes for up to one-month period. Patients were investigated with fasting blood sugar level before and after treatment. Liver function test was done before and after treatment to check any adverse effect of drug. Data was analyzed by one sample paired T test. Analyzed data revealed that p value of fasting serum blood glucose level is 0.01. It is below the significant level of 0.05. Hence it proves Heen bowitiya leaves powder has the hypoglycemic effect. Liver function of all the patients were analyzed before and after the treatment. After the treatment all the calculations were below the normal range.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Heen bowitiya [Osbeckia octandra], Hypoglycemic effect.