Author: Marko Balašević
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
The herbs rosemary and oregano contain compounds that inhibit insulin-releasing enzymes.
Spices such as oregano and rosemary , it turns out, can be used to control type 2 diabetes. Dietitians at the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign , USA , have found that these spices contain compounds that have a drug-like effect on diabetes. .
According to the team of prof . Elvira de Maya, these plants provide an alternative natural way to replace chemically synthesized drugs to lower blood sugar , which can only delight the millions affected by the disease. Diabetes is known to be threatening among the population, with obesity, immobility, and high- calorie diets being risk factors .
The team studied several species of oregano - used in our lands Origanum vulgare , Origanum majorana added to the dishes more than the French, Germans and Italians, Mexican - Lippia graveolens , and rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis . To do this, scientists take fresh herbs directly from the manufacturer and dried, available in stores to study their properties to suppress two enzymes associated with the synthesis of insulin - DPP -4, and insulin signaling - PTP 1B.
These two enzymes are generally considered to be targeted in diabetes control drugs. Metformin and sitagliptin are from the group of DPP- 4 inhibitors. Finding inhibitors of the other enzyme is still a challenge for scientists.
As expected, fresh herbs from the farm contain many more useful polyphenols and flavonoids than those available in the store network. Also that fresh rosemary, Mexican oregano and marjoram are good inhibitors of the enzyme DPP -4. Surprisingly, their dry versions were better inhibitors of the "difficult" PTP 1B enzyme .
The team is now ambitious to conduct more research to study the role of these ingredients in their benefits against type 2 diabetes in the human body.
We have no choice but to prepare our meals deliciously, using rosemary and oregano in any variant, especially at risk of high blood sugar. This is also a good occasion to check the taste differences between our and Greek oregano and the one used by Europeans ...