Herbal List #8 Pancreatic beta cell repair

Pancreatic beta cells (also referred to as ß-cells) are cells found in pancreatic islets that produce insulin and amylin, hormones responsible for not just metabolism of food and nourishment, but a huge variety of biochemical processess going on in human bodies. They are absolutely essential to life and protecting them has a huge impact on your quality of life. Whether you are struggling with diabetes or any ailment that affects pancreatic beta cells, the following article may be beneficial for helping you find herbs capable of stimulating beta cell repair and pancreatic protection.

If you are struggling with severe pancreatitis, this list may also be very beneficial for you. However, do have a look at my other list that is especially tailored for chronic pancreatitis.

For people with predisposition to diabetes, this list contains a huge variety of herbs that may ward off early onset diabetes or potentially even reverse diabetes provided you do enough research about the herbs you take.

Beta cell repair has an immense potential for research of diabetes treatment. There are many growth factors other agents known to promote differentiation or regeneration of pancreatic cells. For example, nicotinamide, glucagon-like peptide, gastrin, activin A, betacellulin, Reg protein, INGAP, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and others. Some of the herbs listed here behave similarly to these agents or stimulate their release.

1. Conophylline isolated from Ervatamia microphylla may induce differentiation of islet cells (behaves like activin-A) and also transdifferentiation of acinar to islet cells (meaning that cells responsible for digestion may be converted to beta cells of islets).
2. Phoenix dactylifera leaf extract protects beta cells and may also increase them with time.
3. Ephedrine, found in Ephedra spp., may help with regeneration of atrophied cells of pancreas.
4. Alchornea cordifolia regenerates pancreatic islet cells.
5. Sedum sarmentosum (known as Herba Sedi or Chui Pen Cao in TCM) may help with pancreatitis and protect beta cells.
6. Enicostemma littorale may have antidiabetic effects – this is mostly due to the presence of sweritisin and swertiamarin. These two constituents are extremely powerful as they have been shown to be capable of inducing islet neogenesis (creation of new cells).
7. Halofuginone, synthetic analog of febrifugine (a quinazolinone alkaloid found in the Chinese herb Dichroa febrifuga), is capable of healing gastrointestinal tract and significantly reducing pancreatic atrophy and inflammation. It is a very promising compound with regards to fibrosis.
8. Ferula elaeochytris is a plant found in mostly Mediterranean area and Asia. It is capable of beta cell regeneration and protection of pancreas, liver and kidneys from diabetic damage.
9. Berberine, with good sources being Coptis chinesis and Phellodendron spp., seems to have a regenerative effect on pancreas. However, high doses induce pancreatic damage, so only use very small doses.
10. Nervilia plicata seems to regenerates kidneys and pancreas.
11. Stem extract of Capparis aphylla improves the organ damage caused by diabetes and normalizes pancreatic function.
12. A combined extract of Vernonia amygdalina and Gangronema latifolium may increase proliferation of beta cells. Gongronema latifolium regenerates kidneys and pancreas. Vernonia amygdalina also regenerates islets.
13. Blighia sapida reverses diabetic damage.
14. Xylopia aethiopica seems to protect against diabetic damage, but it is also highly toxic.
15. Aegle marmelos reduces blood sugar and regenerates beta cells.
16. Leaves of Morus alba may increase the number of ß-cells and also influence the diameter of islet cells.
17. Seed extract of Citrullus colocynthis regenerates ß-cells and islet vasculature.
18. Costus afer leaf extract reverses morphological changes of pancreas and offers antidiabetic effects.
19. Momordica charantia fruit may have a role in beta cell regeneration, but be wary of the side effects.
20. One of the best herbs for diabetes, leaf of Gymnema sylvestre, possesses antilipolytic activity, regenerates beta cells and augments ß-cell expansion. Use lower doses and more frequently to achieve the best effect.
21. Extracts of Coccinia grandis may regenerate ß-cells and protect against diabetic damage.
22. Anemarrhena asphodeloides induces pancreatic regeneration via peroxiredoxin 4 overexpression.
23. Ficus deltoidea and its compound vitexin promote ß-cell regeneration and increase pancreatic antioxidant enzymes.
24. Quercetin, a compound found in a huge number of herbs, regenerates beta cells.
25. Clitoria ternatea regenerates beta cells.
26. Ocimum sanctum helps stimulate insulin release.
27. Amaranthus species seem to be slight regenerators of beta cells.
28. Bauhinia variegate restores the cellular size and islets in diabetes.
29. Artanema sesamoides improves pancreatic necrosis and degenerated islet cells.
30. Anacardium occidentale may regenerate beta cells and improves diabetic markers.
31. Anastatica hierochuntica helps in beta cell regeneration and increases their volume.
32. Elephantopus scaber increases the number of beta cells per isle.
33. Juglans regia leaf extract increases the size of islets and the number of beta cells.
34. Leucaena leucocephala seed extract increases the number of beta cells per islet and the islet diameter.
35. Mangiferin, a constituent found in several herbs, improves beta cell proliferation and reduces apoptosis of pancreatic cells.
36. Nigella sativa and its powerful constituent thymoquinone provide a relatively non-toxic alternative to pancreatic protection and stimulation of beta cell proliferation and regeneration. This herb is also very easy to buy.
37. Prangos ferulacea regenerates beta cells and improves pancreatic necrosis.
38. Sansevieria trifasciata may have a positive effect on beta cells, namely by increasing the granule density.
39. Syzygium cumini may cause proliferation of islet cells.
40. Thunbergia laurifolia may improve beta cell regeneration.
41. Vinca rosea increases the size of beta cells and may regenerate them.
42. Urtica dioica may increase the number of beta cells.
43. Urtica pilulifera reduces cellular damage in pancreas.
44. Tinospora cordifolia stem extract may regenerate beta cells, mostly due to berberine present.
45. Ficus racemose extract restores necrosis of acinar and islet cells. It also increases beta cell regeneration.
46. Eurycoma longifolia induces neogenesis of new islets and improves beta cell activity. It also increases levels of insulin promoter factor 1.
47. Ticomella undulata improves histopathology of pancreas and mimics insulin.
48. Bougainvillea spectabilis helps manage diabetic complications and improves histopathology of organs affected by diabetes.
49. Prunus serotine, also known as wild cherry, has been shown to have a stimulatory and protective effect on pancreatic islets.
50. Carica papaya (papaya) leaf improves insulin secretion and protects the integrity of pancreatic islets.
51. Nymphaea stellata and its sterol nymphayol increase cell mass of beta cells and insulin levels.
52. Anoectochilus roxburghii (with its compound kinsenoside) regenerates ß-cells, improves glucose tolerance and protects beta cells.
53. Curcumin (a major constituent of Curcuma longa and other species) increases the number of islet and beta cells.
54. Gnetum africanum may protect islet cells from destruction.
55. Hibiscus sabdariffa (hibiscus flower) improves volume of islet cells and regenerates beta cells. Use very small doses as it is also toxic.
56. Coreopsis tinctoria promotes recovery of pancreatic function and improves glucose tolerance, most likely by recovering beta cells.
57. Centaurium erythrea protects beta cells with numerous antioxidant pathways and reverses beta cell damage.
58. Salvadora persica root extract regenerates beta cells and helps manage high blood sugar.
59. Prunella vulgaris flower spikes protect pancreatic beta cells from oxidative stress and regulate blood sugar.
60. Spirulina platensis helps with beta cell regeneration, while also protecting kidneys, liver and pancreas.
61. Ichnocarpus frutescens heals pancreas and regenerates beta cells.
62. Merremia emarginata regenerates beta cells and helps manage high blood sugar.
63. Rosa canina (rosehip) protects pancreatic beta cells.
64. Eucalyptus globulus helps restore pancreatic islet function after diabetic states through partial recovery of beta cells.
65. Uncaria gambir leaf extract may have regenerative properties on pancreas.
66. Icariin, one of the most interesting constituents found in Epimedium sagittatum, helps protect pancreas during chronic pancreatitis and promotes repair of pancreatic acinar cells.
67. Newbouldia laevis leaf extract may promote beta cell regeneration.
68. Lepidium sativum aids in ß-cell regeneration and protects islets.
69. Andrographis paniculata and its compound andrographolide improve diabetic beta and islet cells, and protect them.
70. Terminalia catappa may help with beta cell regeneration.
71. Argyrolobium roseum increases beta cell proliferation and helps manage diabetes.
72. Epicatechin, a tannin found basically everywhere, seems to increase number of beta cells per islet.

References

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