Bauhinia forficata in the treatment of diabetes mellitus: a patent review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus has been considered an epidemic by the World Health Organization, with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. The treatment of this pathology consists in glycemic control, which can be done by oral hypoglycemic agents, insulin therapy, dietary guidance, regular physical activity, and psychosocial support. In addition, other adjuvant treatments are employed, such as phytotherapic, and one of the most used plants is Bauhinia forficata.

Areas covered: In the current review, patents using Bauhinia forficata for the Diabetes Mellitus treatment have been analyzed. There were 03 patents in WIPO, 01 in Espacenet, 01 in USPTO, and 02 in INPI.

Expert opinion: Patents on the adjuvant treatment of Diabetes Mellitus by Bauhinia forficata are discussed. Although there are some phytotherapy products containing this medicinal plant which has hypoglycemic effect here is still a need for the development of more products based on natural resources, for the treatment of this pathology, without side effects and with other benefits, to assist in the glycemia control in diabetic patients, and to improve their quality of life.

KEYWORDS:

• Bauhinia forficata
• diabetes mellitus
• phytotherapy
• Flavonoids
• kaempferol
• insulin resistance

Article highlights

• The flavonoid kaempferol from the Bauhinia forficata leaves has a hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects.

• A composition with B. forficata extracts and other medicinal plants showed a hypoglycemic effect in humans.

• Infusion with Bauhinia forficata leaves obtained a hypoglycemic effect in diabetic patients.

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Declaration of interest

The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant funding from public, private or nonprofit development agencies.