Fact Check: Can consuming Aparajita tea cure diabetes?

Hyderabad: An Instagram post claiming tea made out of Aparajita flower to be a panacea cure for diabetes is being widely shared on social media.

The viral video claims that consuming Aparajita flower tea or chewing the flowers would eliminate diabetes.

Diabetes has been a concern for a majority of people over time. Especially in India, there has been a huge increase in the number of people suffering from diabetes. As the numbers are increasing, the need for a cure is also increasing. Traditional medicine and herbal treatments are becoming more popular among people.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading as Aparajita aka Butterfly Pea Flower or Clitoria Ternatea is beneficial for diabetes patients but it cannot cure diabetes.

We contacted Dr Vijay Mohan, MD, senior consultant physician, Care Hospitals, and the HoD for the Department of Internal Medicine, to debunk the claim. He told NewsMeter that till now, as per the latest scientific research, there is no cure for diabetes.

There are several drugs and some herbal and home remedies that can reduce sugar levels but not cure diabetes. Aparajita may reduce sugar levels to a certain extent but may not cure it. The aim of any diabetes medication is not just to reduce the number of sugar levels alone. Still, they also have to provide cardio and renal protection to postpone diabetes complications and prolong one’s life. How far these homemade remedies offer these benefits is a question. However, until multiple authorized international bodies accept it through large-scale research, nothing can be claimed as a cure for diabetes.

A study titled, ‘Acute effect of Clitoria ternatea flower beverage on glycemic response and antioxidant capacity in healthy subjects’ suggests that acute ingestion of Clitoria ternatea increases plasma antioxidant capacity without hypoglycemia in the fasting state more preferably in the morning. It also improves postprandial glucose, insulin and antioxidant status when consumed with sucrose.

Moreover, studies revealed that the ethanol extract of Clitorea ternatea (EECT) was evaluated for its antihyperglycemic and antioxidative activity in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The findings suggested that ethanol extract of Clitorea ternatea has potential antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activity that may prove beneficial to attenuate diabetes and its complications. This activity is said to be attributed to flavonoids, anthocyanins and alkaloids found in the ethanol extract of Clitorea ternatea.

What is Aparajita or Clitorea ternatea?

According to a study, Aparajita aka Clitoria ternatea has long been used in traditional medicine, primarily as supplementation to improve cognitive function and relieve symptoms of a wide range of illnesses such as fever, inflammation, pain, and diabetes. Clitoria ternatea is available in two flower colors: white and blue. Shankhpushpi is the local name for Clitoria ternatea. It has potential uses in modern health and agriculture, as well as, a natural source of food organic dyes and antioxidants. Clitoria ternatea has been often used as a memory enhancer, antidepressant, antistress, sedative agent, anxiolytic and a tranquilising agent in traditional medicine such as Ayurveda.