salacia extract

Salacia extract is a botanical supplement derived from various species of the Salacia plant, particularly Salacia oblonga, Salacia reticulata, and Salacia chinensis, which are native to Southeast Asia and widely used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to manage diabetes and metabolic disorders. The extract contains active compounds such as salacinol, kotalanol, mangiferin, and proanthocyanidins. These compounds primarily act as inhibitors of the enzyme alpha-glucosidase, thereby slowing carbohydrate absorption in the intestine and reducing postprandial (after meal) blood glucose spikes, similar to the mechanism of action of the pharmaceutical agent acarbose. Additional mechanisms attributed to Salacia extract include modulation of aldose reductase, pancreatic lipase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α), and glucose transporter-4-mediated glucose uptake. It also exhibits antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. Salacia extract is mainly marketed and studied as a dietary supplement for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, with some evidence of efficacy in glycemic and lipid profile improvement. However, clinical evidence is currently limited and more robust studies are needed for confirmation[1][2][3][4][7].

Other names

Salacia oblonga extractSalacia reticulata extractSalacia chinensis extractSalacia root extractSalacia leaf extract