Know your Herbs

Salacia oblonga or Saptrangi is a woody and strangling herb that is native to Sri Lanka, China and India. It is commonly known as Marking Nut tree. This herb is with seven whorls in its stem with a dark yellow coloured bark. This gives the name Saptrangi to the herb.

It is one of the most important traditional herbs used to treat diabetes, especially type II diabetes and other illnesses. After consuming food rich in carbohydrates, it normalizes elevated glucose level. Bark of Saptrangi has a potent therapeutic effect. The shrub grows in the rainy areas, bears berries and yellow coloured flowers. Plants have greenish-gray, thin and smooth bark with dichotomous branches i.e. the axis is divided into two branches. The leaves of the plant have toothed margin and shiny surface. It is found in tropical climates and the bark is dark yellow in colour and bitter in taste. It belongs to the family Hippocrateaceae.

The enzyme alpha-glucosidase breaks starch and disaccharides into glucose. thus there is less glucose in the blood, which causes low blood pressure. Kotalanol 9 and Salacinol are glucosidase inhibitors found in Saptrangi. It prevents the storage of extra fat in the body. it gives relief by regulating the pancreas and liver function.

The active components of Saptrangi include catechins, friedo-oleanones, anthocyanidines, quinonemethide quinone, and related triterpenoids. The major bioactive chemicals are glucosides, mangiferin, xanthine and the two important sulfoniam sulphates are Kotalanol and Salacinol that show potent activity against sucrose molecule.

Saptrangi possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, anti-microbial, anti-peroxidative, nephroprotective, anti-oxidant, cytotoxic, anti-diuretic, anti-proliferative, anti-hypertriglyceridemic and antihyperlipidemic activities.

Benefits of Saptrangi

• Controls Blood Glucose: Saptrangi controls blood glucose levels by preventing carbohydrate absorption, increasing insulin sensitivity and increasing the insulin efficacy. It is used to treat type II diabetes.
   
• Regulates Lipid Profile: It regulates blood cholesterol levels, lowers down the triglyceride and cholesterol level and increases the good cholesterol.
   
• Protects Heart: It is cardio protective and thus protects the heart tissues from free radicals.
   
• Protects Liver: Saptrangi protects the liver since it is helps in controlling jaundice and liver enlargement as well.
   
• Controls Weight: It inhibits weight gain and obesity by preventing fat accumulation.
   
• Useful in Piles: It is also a helpful remedy for piles and reduces inflammation due to the plies.
   
• Improves Digestion: It is helpful in stomach-related illnesses such as dyspepsia, constipation and loss of hunger.
   
• Controls Sweating: It prevents excess sweating.
   
• Improves Women’s Health: Saptrangi is helpful in ailments of women because it works as a uterine stimulant and is hence useful in all types of menstrual disorders, especially excessive bleeding, pain and discomfort. It reduces symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.
   
• Reduces Joint Pains: It inhibits joint inflammation and thus provides relief in painful joints and arthritis.
   
• Balances Doshas: It purifies all the doshas and is useful for the disorders of vata and kapha dosha.
   

The efficacy of Saptrangi in diabetes and its therapeutic importance in prevention and management of other health disorders makes it a part of Diabewell Tablets.