Abstract

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, and an important cardiovascular risk factor with a high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Phytotherapy can be an useful complement in the treatment of chronic diseases, so the hypoglycemic effect of Bauhinia forficata (L) subsp. pruinosa (Fabaceae) was evaluated, as used in Chilean traditional medicine. The content of rutin (R) and trigonelline (T) in aqueous extracts (0.15 and 1.0% infusions) and lyophilized extract from leaves of B. forficata were determined by HPLC. It was obtained 2.80 ?gR/mL and 2.87 ?gT/mL for 0.15% infusion, 12.48 ?gR/mL and 16.24 ?gT/mL for 1.0% infusion, and 5.70 ?gR/mL and 8.14 ?gT/mL for the lyophilized extract (0.1%). Subsequently, a pilot clinical study in diabetic and prediabetic volunteers (n = 15) was performed, taking one dose of the 0.15% infusion, three times a day after meals, for 3 months. The results showed a significant statistically reduction in % of HbA1c of 0.57 ± 0.83 (p = 0.0179), suggesting that the 0.15% infusion of B. forficata could be useful in the prevention or complementary treatment of diabetes.