Surreal illustration of Litsea glutinosa forest symbolizing metabolic benefits.

Can This Herbal Extract Combat Diabetes and High Cholesterol?

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores the potential of Litsea glutinosa bark extract as a natural treatment for type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia."

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and related metabolic disorders represent a significant global health challenge, characterized by hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperlipidemia. Insulin resistance (IR) is a key factor in the development of T2DM, and while existing medications help manage blood glucose, the need for new, effective treatments that address multiple aspects of the disease remains critical.

In the search for novel therapeutic agents, researchers have turned to traditional medicine and natural products. Litsea glutinosa, a tree known for its aromatic properties and traditional uses in treating various ailments, has garnered attention. Previous studies have identified alkaloids, lignans, and flavones in the leaves and barks of this plant, hinting at its potential medicinal properties, including anti-diabetic effects.

This article delves into a recent study that explores the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemia effects of an alkaloid-rich extract from Litsea glutinosa barks (CG) in a mouse model of diabetes. The research assesses CG's impact on glucose and lipid profiles, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic glucose metabolism, offering insights into its potential as a natural remedy for managing diabetes and related conditions.

Unlocking the Potential of Litsea glutinosa Bark Extract (CG)

Surreal illustration of Litsea glutinosa forest symbolizing metabolic benefits.

The study, recently published in Scientific Reports, investigated the effects of CG in ob/ob mice, a genetic model of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers administered CG orally at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg to the mice over a period of four weeks. Throughout the study, they monitored key parameters related to glucose metabolism, liver function, lipid profiles, and inflammation.

The findings revealed several noteworthy effects of CG treatment:

Reduced Obesity: CG dose-dependently decreased body weight and fat mass in the mice without affecting their average food intake. This suggests that CG may influence metabolic processes related to fat accumulation.
Improved Glucose Metabolism: CG (at 100-200 mg/kg) significantly lowered serum levels of fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and glycosylated serum protein (GSP), indicating improved blood sugar control.
Enhanced Insulin Sensitivity: CG treatment increased insulin sensitivity, as shown by decreased fasting serum insulin levels, reduced HOMA-IR (an indicator of insulin resistance), and improved oral glucose tolerance.
Ameliorated Hyperlipidemia: CG alleviated dyslipidemia, reduced liver steatosis (fatty liver), increased serum lipase activity (an enzyme involved in fat breakdown), and reduced inflammation.
Stimulated Liver Glycolysis and Glycogen Production: CG increased the activity of liver pyruvate kinase and glucokinase, key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, and increased liver glycogen content.

Chemical characterization of CG using UPLC-QTOF-MS revealed that it is rich in alkaloids, with eight main alkaloids identified. Notably, many of these alkaloids have demonstrated anti-diabetic activities in previous studies, further supporting the potential of CG as a therapeutic agent.

A Promising Natural Agent

The study suggests that the alkaloid-rich extract of Litsea glutinosa barks (CG) possesses potential anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects. These findings open avenues for utilizing CG as an effective agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and to evaluate its safety and efficacy in human clinical trials.

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This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1038/s41598-018-30823-w, Alternate LINK

Title: Anti-Hyperglycemic And Anti-Hyperlipidemia Effects Of The Alkaloid-Rich Extract From Barks Of Litsea Glutinosa In Ob/Ob Mice

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: Scientific Reports

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Xiaopo Zhang, Yan Jin, Younan Wu, Caiyun Zhang, Dejun Jin, Qingxia Zheng, Youbin Li

Published: 2018-08-23

Everything You Need To Know

What is Litsea glutinosa and why is it being researched for diabetes?

Litsea glutinosa is a tree traditionally used to treat various ailments and is known for its aromatic properties. Research is focusing on it due to the presence of alkaloids, lignans, and flavones found in its leaves and barks, suggesting potential medicinal properties, including anti-diabetic effects. Specifically, an alkaloid-rich extract from Litsea glutinosa barks, referred to as CG, is being investigated for its potential to manage type 2 diabetes.

How does the Litsea glutinosa bark extract (CG) affect blood sugar and insulin?

The alkaloid-rich extract from Litsea glutinosa barks (CG) has demonstrated several positive effects on blood sugar and insulin. CG treatment led to lowered serum levels of fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and glycosylated serum protein (GSP), indicating improved blood sugar control. Furthermore, it increased insulin sensitivity, decreased fasting serum insulin levels, reduced HOMA-IR (an indicator of insulin resistance), and improved oral glucose tolerance. This combined effect suggests that CG can help manage hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, key features of type 2 diabetes.

Besides blood sugar, what other metabolic benefits were observed with the Litsea glutinosa extract (CG)?

In addition to improving blood sugar control, Litsea glutinosa bark extract (CG) exhibited several other beneficial metabolic effects. It dose-dependently reduced body weight and fat mass, ameliorated hyperlipidemia (improved lipid profiles), reduced liver steatosis (fatty liver), and increased serum lipase activity (an enzyme involved in fat breakdown). These effects indicate that CG can positively impact multiple aspects of metabolic health beyond just glucose regulation.

What are the implications of Litsea glutinosa bark extract (CG) stimulating liver glycolysis and glycogen production?

The fact that Litsea glutinosa bark extract (CG) stimulates liver glycolysis and glycogen production has significant implications for glucose metabolism. By increasing the activity of liver pyruvate kinase and glucokinase (key enzymes in glucose metabolism) and boosting liver glycogen content, CG essentially enhances the liver's ability to process and store glucose. This can lead to a reduction in circulating blood glucose levels and improved insulin sensitivity, as the liver is more effectively managing glucose uptake and storage. This mechanism could be particularly beneficial in managing the hyperglycemia associated with type 2 diabetes.

The research mentions alkaloids within Litsea glutinosa. Why are alkaloids important in understanding the potential of CG?

Alkaloids are a class of naturally occurring chemical compounds that often possess significant pharmacological activities. The alkaloid-rich nature of the Litsea glutinosa bark extract (CG) is crucial because chemical characterization of CG using UPLC-QTOF-MS revealed that it is rich in alkaloids, with eight main alkaloids identified. Notably, many of these alkaloids have demonstrated anti-diabetic activities in previous studies, further supporting the potential of CG as a therapeutic agent. These compounds are likely contributing to the observed anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects, making them a key area of focus for further research to isolate and identify the specific alkaloids responsible for the therapeutic benefits.