Effect of medicinal plant Bauhinia forficata (Link) in type 2 diabetic subjects

Abstract

Introduction: Bauhinia forficata is a medicinal plant used in the diabetes treatment, it is popularly known as pata-de-vaca or vegetable insulida. Objectives: To relate the levels of blood glucose, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements in patients with type 2 diabetes who use medicinal plant tea Bauhinia forficata. Methods: Two groups were analyzed: control and test (the latter took the B. forficata infusion). During the first and last meeting, anthropometric measurements were taken; and, every two weeks, for a period of 180 days, blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose, through hemoglucotest, were measured in all users. Results: There was a significant decrease in the values of the hemoglucotest test group in comparison to the values of the first and last collection (t = 2.97, p = 0.007). This did not occur for the control group (t = 1.93, p = 0.06). Other analyzes showed no significant variations. Conclusion: The data demonstrate the effectiveness of this medicinal plant for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.