Aratiles Fruit Medicinal Uses: Can It Improve Diabetes?

In 2019, a student scientist, Maria Isabel Layson, discovered that aratiles (kerson fruit) contain bioactive compounds that may help cure diabetes. Layson even won the National Science and Technology Fair and competed in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held in the United States. In another study, aratiles was found to be rich in phytochemicals with great anti-oxidant capabilities. How can this fruit help manage diabetes? What are the other aratiles fruit medicinal uses? Find out here.

Aratiles Fruit: Can It Cure Diabetes?

The bioactive compounds Layson enumerated in her study include anthocyanin, flavonoids, and polyphenol.

Anthocyanins

According to research, anthocyanins can lower blood sugar by protecting the beta cells of the pancreas, increasing insulin secretion, improving insulin resistance, boosting liver function, and inhibiting carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes [2], which are keys for digestion and carbohydrate absorption3.

Besides aratiles, you can also get anthocyanins from blackberries, blueberries, cranberry, and cherries.

Flavonoids

As for flavonoids, a report mentioned that naturally occurring flavonoids possess anti-diabetic effects. Moreover, flavonoids demonstrate the ability to prevent diabetes and its complications. They support the regulation of carbohydrate digestion, insulin signaling, insulin secretion, glucose uptake, and fat deposition.  [3].

Many fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids. Other sources include tea and red wine.

Polyphenols

Finally, experts say polyphenols are beneficial for type 2 diabetes because they slow down carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption, stimulate insulin secretion and modulate liver glucose release [4].

Various fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, as well as coffee and tea also contain polyphenols.

Reminders

While aratiles shows excellent potential in helping manage diabetes, we still need further studies about it. Eating aratiles in small amounts might be generally safe. However, refrain from using them to treat your diabetes mellitus without your doctor’s approval.

Other Aratiles Fruit Medicinal Uses

Besides its potential to help cure diabetes, the other aratiles medicinal uses include:

Protecting us from diseases

This fruit is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that protect our bodies by removing free radicals, which damage our cells. Free radicals also contribute to aging and other diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

It helps with inflammation

Another report noted that aratiles fruit extracts possess potent anti-inflammatory activity. This supports the fruit’s folkloric use in pain and inflammation control.  

In an animal study, too, the fruit extracts reduced the edema of a rat subject within just three hours. Researchers said the effect was comparable to that produced by indomethacin, a standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine [5].  

It has antibacterial properties

Did you know that aratiles fruit has antibacterial properties? In one report, the researchers discovered that the methanol extracts from leaves and fruit showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus [6].

To give context, E. coli is the most common cause of urinary tract infections, while S. aureus typically causes pneumonia and skin infections.

It may help relieve ulcers

Research found that the ethanolic extract from the aratiles fruit leaves reduced the acidity of gastric content in the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Investigators noted that it was also beneficial for indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers and that its effects were comparable to that of ranitidine, a medication used to reduce stomach acid [7].

Key Takeaways

Aratiles or kerson fruit is common in the Philippines. Back in 2019, a student scientist discovered that it might potentially cure diabetes. This is mainly due to its bioactive components, namely anthocyanin, flavonoids, and polyphenols.

Besides being a potential diabetes cure, the aratiles fruit also exhibited high antioxidant content, anti-inflammatory activity, antibacterial properties, and might even help with ulcers.

While this fruit is generally safe to eat in food amounts, please refrain from using it to treat any health condition you might have unless you have your doctor’s approval. This is particularly true if you’re already taking some medicines for your health concern.

Learn more about Diabetes here.