Anti-diabetic activity of Setaria italica

Setaria italica (SI) belongs to the family Poaceae and is commonly known as foxtail millet. It is native to eastern Asia. In India it is chiefly cultivated in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The edible part of the plant is the seed which can be eaten as a sweet or savory food. It has certain medical qualities such as being emollient astringent digestive and appetizing. Additionally Setaria italica seed aqueous extract has strong anti-diabetic properties. This may be because of its stimulatory effect on insulin secretion which causes related alterations in the metabolism of carbohydrates proteins and lipids. It may also be because it reduces oxidative stress by strengthening the antioxidant defense system. The glycosides and alkaloids found in the seeds of Setaria italica are phytochemicals that have been shown to have anti-diabetic properties.