Reactive oxygen species, cause oxidative stress in endothelial cells, a condition implicated in many cardiovascular diseases. Tropical herbs discovered to prevent atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and organ damage or help enhance tissue regeneration caused by high blood cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disorders were developed into capsules as high quality dietary supplements.
Histological studies showed these herbs to be protective against cataract, kidney damage, liver damage and heart tissue damage related to diabetes, stress and high blood cholesterol. High blood sugar in diabetes can degrade antioxidant enzyme defences, thus allowing oxidation which damage other enzyme, structural protein and tissues. Over one hundred tropical plants were screened for polyphenol and flavonoid contents.
The polyphenol rich herbs had significant oral blood sugar lowering activity in diabetics. The blood protective antioxidant enzyme Super Oxide Dismutase and Glutathione Peroxidase of diabetic and high cholesterol animals supplemented with the high quality selected tropical herbs were significantly higher than those of diabetic and high cholesterol animals.
The blood Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a lipid peroxidation marker that are damaging to proteins, DNA and cell membranes, were significantly lower in herbs supplemented animals than those of diabetic or high blood cholesterol animals. The polyphenol rich herbs showed significant Low Density Lipoprotein antioxidative activity (anti atherosclerosis) and were able to alleviate deleterious effect of oxidative damage caused by diabetes mellitus and high blood cholesterol.
