Bauhinia forficata in the treatment of diabetes mellitus: a patent review

Expert Opin Ther Pat. 2018 Feb;28(2):129-138. doi: 10.1080/13543776.2018.1409208. Epub 2017 Dec 8.

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus has been considered an epidemic by the World Health Organization, with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. The treatment of this pathology consists in glycemic control, which can be done by oral hypoglycemic agents, insulin therapy, dietary guidance, regular physical activity, and psychosocial support. In addition, other adjuvant treatments are employed, such as phytotherapic, and one of the most used plants is Bauhinia forficata.

Areas covered: In the current review, patents using Bauhinia forficata for the Diabetes Mellitus treatment have been analyzed. There were 03 patents in WIPO, 01 in Espacenet, 01 in USPTO, and 02 in INPI.

Expert opinion: Patents on the adjuvant treatment of Diabetes Mellitus by Bauhinia forficata are discussed. Although there are some phytotherapy products containing this medicinal plant which has hypoglycemic effect here is still a need for the development of more products based on natural resources, for the treatment of this pathology, without side effects and with other benefits, to assist in the glycemia control in diabetic patients, and to improve their quality of life.

Keywords: Bauhinia forficata; Flavonoids; diabetes mellitus; insulin resistance; kaempferol; phytotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bauhinia / chemistry*
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Diabetes Mellitus / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / physiopathology
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Patents as Topic
  • Phytotherapy / methods
  • Plant Extracts / adverse effects
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Plant Extracts