SALACIA: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Salacia (Salacia oblonga, Salacia reticulata) is a group of plants found in Southeast Asia. It's used in traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda.

Chemicals in the salacia root and stem have effects that might reduce blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels.

People use salacia for diabetes, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for

Diabetes. Early research shows that drinking salacia tea with each meal might lower glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Other early research shows that taking salacia with food for 6 weeks might reduce blood sugar and HbA1C levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Salacia is possibly safe when used for up to 6 weeks. Side effects might include stomach pain, diarrhea, indigestion, gas, and nausea.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Salacia is possibly safe when used for up to 6 weeks. Side effects might include stomach pain, diarrhea, indigestion, gas, and nausea.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if salacia is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Surgery: Salacia might lower blood sugar levels. This might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using salacia at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with SALACIA
Salacia might lower blood sugar levels. Taking salacia along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

Dosing

There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of salacia might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

View References

REFERENCES:

Akase, T., Shimada, T., Harasawa, Y., Akase, T., Ikeya, Y., Nagai, E., Iizuka, S., Nakagami, G., Iizaka, S., Sanada, H., and Aburada, M. Preventive Effects of View abstract.

Giron, M. D., Sevillano, N., Salto, R., Haidour, A., Manzano, M., Jimenez, M. L., Rueda, R., and Lopez-Pedrosa, J. M. View abstract.

Karunanayake, E. H., Welihinda, J., Sirimanne, S. R., and Sinnadorai, G. Oral hypoglycaemic activity of some medicinal plants of Sri Lanka. J Ethnopharmacol. 1984;11(2):223-231. View abstract.

Krishnakumar, K., Augusti, K. T., and Vijayammal, P. L. Anti-peroxidative and hypoglycaemic activity of View abstract.

Mohan, S. and Pinto, B. M. Zwitterionic glycosidase inhibitors: salacinol and related analogues. Carbohydr.Res. 9-3-2007;342(12-13):1551-1580. View abstract.

Muraoka, O., Morikawa, T., Miyake, S., Akaki, J., Ninomiya, K., and Yoshikawa, M. Quantitative determination of potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, salacinol and kotalanol, in View abstract.

Sabu, M. and Kuttan, R. Antioxidant activity of Indian herbal drugs in rats with aloxan-induced diabetes. Pharmaceutical Biology 2003;41:500-505.

Shimada, T., Nagai, E., Harasawa, Y., Akase, T., Aburada, T., Iizuka, S., Miyamoto, K., and Aburada, M. Metabolic disease prevention and suppression of fat accumulation by View abstract.

Chandrashekar C, Madhyastha S, Benjamin S. Wight extracts on drug induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Herba Polonica. 2008;54:46-58.

Collene AL, Hertzler SR, Williams JA, Wolf BW. Effects of a nutritional supplement containing Salacia oblonga extract and insulinogenic amino acids on postprandial glycemia, insulinemia, and breath hydrogen responses in healthy adults. Nutrition 2005;21:848-54. View abstract.

Flammang AM, Erexson GL, Mecchi MS, et al. Genotoxicity testing of a Salacia oblonga extract. Food Chem Toxicol. 2006 Nov;44(11):1868-74. View abstract.

Gujjala S, Bangeppagari M, Devarakonda VLNP, et al. Pleiotropic effects of Salacia reticulata and Simvastatin on oxidative stress and insulin resistance in a rat model. Biomed Pharmacother 2023;164:114960. View abstract.

Heacock PM, Hertzler SR, Williams JA, Wolf BW. Effects of a medical food containing an herbal alpha-glucosidase inhibitor on postprandial glycemia and insulinemia in healthy adults. J Am Diet Assoc 2005;105:65-71. View abstract.

Huang TH, Yang Q, Harada M, et al. Salacia oblonga root improves cardiac lipid metabolism in Zucker diabetic fatty rats: Modulation of cardiac PPAR-alpha-mediated transcription of fatty acid metabolic genes. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2006;210:78-85. View abstract.

Im R, Mano H, Matsuura T, et al. Mechanisms of blood glucose-lowering effect of aqueous extract from stems of Kothala himbutu (Salacia reticulata) in the mouse. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jan 21;121(2):234-40. View abstract.

Ismail TS, Gopalakrishnan S, Begum VH, Elango V. Anti-inflammatory activity of Salacia oblonga Wall. and Azima tetracantha Lam. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;56:145-52. View abstract.

Jayawardena MH, de Alwis NM, Hettigoda V, Fernando DJ. A double blind randomised placebo controlled cross over study of a herbal preparation containing Salacia reticulata in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. J Ethnopharmacol 2005;97:215-8. View abstract.

Jung J, Park J, Lee M, et al. Salacia reticulata extract suppresses fat accumulation by regulating lipid metabolism. Foods 2023;12(17):3149. View abstract.

Kajimoto O, Kawamori S, Shimoda H, et al. Effects of a Diet Containing Salacia reticulata on Mild Type 2 Diabetes in Humans. A Placebo-controlled, Cross-over Trial. Nippon Eiyo Shokuryo Gakkaishi 2000;53(5):199-205.

Krishnakumar K, Augusti KT, Vijayammal PL. Hypoglycaemic and anti-oxidant activity of Salacia oblonga Wall. extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1999 Oct;43(4):510-4. View abstract.

Kumara N, Pathirana RN, Pathirana C. Hypoglycemic Activity of the Root and Stem of Salacia reticulata. var. ß-diandra. in Alloxan Diabetic Rats. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2008. 43: 219-225.

Li Y, Peng G, Li Q, et al. Salacia oblonga improves cardiac fibrosis and inhibits postprandial hyperglycemia in obese Zucker rats. Life Sci 2004;75:1735-46. View abstract.

Matsuda H, Morikawa T, Masayuki Y. Antidiabetogenic constituents from several natural medicines. Pure Appl Chem 2002;74:1301-8.

Matsuda H, Murakami T, Yashiro K, et al. Antidiabetic principles of natural medicines. IV. Aldose reductase and qlpha-glucosidase inhibitors from the roots of Salacia oblonga Wall. (Celastraceae): structure of a new friedelane-type triterpene, kotalagenin 16-acetate. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1999;47:1725-9. View abstract.

Ratnasooriya WD, Jayakody JR, Premakumara GA. Adverse pregnancy outcome in rats following exposure to a Salacia reticulata (Celastraceae) root extract. Braz J Med Biol Res 2003;36:931-5. View abstract.

Williams JA, Choe YS, Noss MJ, et al. Extract of Salacia oblonga lowers acute glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86:124-30. View abstract.

Wolf BW, Weisbrode SE. Safety evaluation of an extract from Salacia oblonga. Food Chem Toxicol 2003;41:867-74. View abstract.

Yoshikawa M, Ninomiya K, Shimoda H, et al. Hepatoprotective and antioxidative properties of Salacia reticulata: preventive effects of phenolic constituents on CCl4-induced liver injury in mice. Biol Pharm Bull 2002;25:72-6. View abstract.

Yoshikawa M, Nishida N, Shimoda H, et al. [Polyphenol constituents from Salacia species: quantitative analysis of mangiferin with alpha-glucosidase and aldose reductase inhibitory activities]. Yakugaku Zasshi 2001;121:371-8. View abstract.

Yoshikawa M, Shimoda H, Nishida N, et al. Salacia reticulata and its polyphenolic constituents with lipase inhibitory and lipolytic activities have mild antiobesity effects in rats. J Nutr 2002;132:1819-24. View abstract.

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
Licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Copyright © 1995-2024 by Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. All Rights Reserved.