Background

• Salacia plant species are found in India, Sri Lanka, China, and other Southeast Asian countries. Salacia species have been used in traditional systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda and Unani, to treat diabetes, obesity, gonorrhea, rheumatism, itching, and asthma. Extracts from Salacia species (including Salacia chinensis, Salacia reticulata, and Salacia oblonga) are consumed in Japan, Korea, the United States, and India as a food supplement to prevent and manage obesity and diabetes.
• There is limited research on the use of Salacia for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. More high-quality studies are needed.

References

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