Wereke (Ibervillea sonorae), also known as huereque, werequi, or guereque, is a plant from the Cucurbitaceae family (the same plant family as squash, pumpkin, and cucumber). Native to the semi-arid regions of northern Mexico, such as Sonora and Chihuahua, as well as parts of the southwestern United States, particularly the Sonoran Desert, wereke has a rich history of traditional use, particularly among indigenous peoples. The root is the part of wereke most commonly used and believed to promote health benefits.
Traditional Uses and Modern Applications
Indigenous communities in Mexico have used wereke for centuries to support overall health. It was traditionally used to aid with digestive problems, reduce fever and sore throat, help relieve certain skin conditions, and as a natural aid preventing or inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms for wound healing. Today, wereke is gaining attention as a natural ally in blood sugar and digestive health. It is most known for its role in naturally promoting balanced blood sugar levels and is often used by people trying to manage diabetes as a complementary herbal remedy.
Diabetes in Mexico: A Growing Concern
In Mexico, Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious health problem. Despite the availability of current pharmacological treatments for DM such as insulin and oral hypoglycemics, the Mexican population continues to use medicinal plants in the treatment of DM. In 2020, Mexico ranked among the top five countries globally in terms of DM prevalence, deaths caused by DM, and disability-adjusted life-years associated with DM. This highlights the significance and proportions of DM in Mexico, where obesity, a risk condition closely related to DM, is increasing each year, especially in the child population.
The Cucurbitaceae Family: A Source of Antidiabetic Compounds
The importance of the use of medicinal plants in Mexico reveals that the study of these species would be a rich source of possible active molecules that could offer a novel effect in the treatment of DM, and perhaps because they derive from plants, could have high acceptance for their use. The botanical families with the largest number of plant species used in Mexican traditional medicine for the control of DM are from the following families: Asteraceae, Leguminosae, Cactaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Labiatae, Rubiaceae, Solanaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Rosaceae. Among these families, Cucurbitaceae is highlighted due to the high endemic number of the species in the country, the continuous common use by rural inhabitants as medicine, especially in DM treatment, and also because a number of Cucurbitaceae still thrive as wild species and as important crops as well, conferring on Cucurbitaceae significant importance as a natural source with international transcendence.
The antidiabetic properties of the plant species that belong to the Cucurbitaceae family has already been recognized worldwide. Mexico is one of the most important centers of diversity of Cucurbitaceae. The reviewed species (Cucurbita ficifolia, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo, Ibervillea sonorae, Sechium edule, Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis melo, and C. sativus) revealed that the antidiabetic effects exerted are effective in a number of mechanisms involved in the complex pathogenesis of DM: hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, protective effects on diverse organs and cells, as well as in the control of dyslipidemias; furthermore, the select species of the Cucurbitaceae family could also be essential components of diets for the control of DM in patients with the disease.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
Wereke's Potential Benefits
Wereke contains compounds that may have anti-inflammatory properties and may help prevent the growth and reproduction of certain types of bacteria.
Here's a closer look at the potential health benefits of wereke:
Blood Sugar Support: Wereke is most known for its role in naturally promoting balanced blood sugar levels. It is often used by people trying to manage diabetes as a complementary herbal remedy. Wereke (Ibervillea sonorae) is widely used in Mexico to promote reduced levels of glucose in the blood. There has been promising research done on animals which leads many to believe it may promote the same glucose-lowering effects in humans. Natural Sugar Control: Wereke Natural Betel Capsules are formulated to support blood sugar balance, helping to maintain healthy and stable levels. This natural supplement is ideal for those looking for safe dietary support to control their glucose levels effectively and without harsh side effects and is perfect for people who want to promote their metabolic health naturally.
Other potential benefits: It was used to aid with digestive problems, reducing fever and sore throat, as well as help relive certain skin conditions and as a natural aid preventing or inhibiting the growth or action of microorganisms for wound healing. Huereque contains compounds that may have anti-inflammatory properties and may help prevent the growth and reproduction of certain types of bacteria, both properties make it potentially useful to promote healing of wounds.
How to Use Wereke
Wereke is most commonly consumed as a tea or in capsule form, since the raw root has a very bitter taste and is rarely eaten fresh. For the treatment of diabetes, slices of dried Wereke root are boiled in water and the resulting decoction is drunk as a tea. Various other products containing Wereke root are also available in commerce, including capsules and liquid extracts.
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?
Important Considerations
- Side Effects: The most common side effects of wereke include low blood sugar and digestive upset.
- Interactions: There are potential interactions with diabetes medications.
- Pregnancy and Lactation: It is not recommended in pregnant or lactating women without the supervision of a physician.
- Allergies: People with allergies to any component of the supplement should avoid it.
- Consult Your Healthcare Provider: As with any herbal supplement, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider before using wereke-especially if you’re taking medications to manage blood sugar levels.
Wereke and the Cucurbita ficifolia
Cucurbita ficifolia is one of the domesticated Cucurbitaceae species whose origin has not been defined. Some authors suggest Central America or Southern Mexico as places of origin, while others propose South America, and more specifically the Andes. In Mexico, C. ficifolia is known as chilacayote, and is widely consumed in different traditional dishes and also as sweets prepared with their seeds or fruits. A number of in vitro and in vivo tests have been carried out to show the hypoglycemic effect of C. ficifolia.
Studies on Cucurbita ficifolia
Román-Ramos et al. evaluated glucose tolerance in an animal model using healthy rabbits. C. ficifolia exhibited the greatest decrease in the area under the glucose tolerance curve (30.7%). Previous studies by the same research group showed that C. ficifolia possesses a hypoglycemic effect equal to that of Tolbutamide in healthy rabbits with temporary hyperglycemia (induced by subcutaneous administration of glucose) and in animals with moderate diabetes induced by Alloxan (fasting glucose level 150-300 mg/dL), but not in animals with severe diabetes induced by Alloxan (fasting glucose level higher than 400 mg/dL). Based on the latter, it was proposed that the juice of the fruit of C. ficifolia acts only in the presence of insulin.
A study with 10 patients with T2DM demonstrated that the administration of C. ficifolia juice, at a dose of 4 mL/kg of body weight, caused a decrease in blood glucose levels during 5 h after ingestion of the extract. Other reports comprising in vivo tests indicated that the juice from the pulp of C. ficifolia was administered intraperitoneally and orally to healthy and Alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The juice administered intraperitoneally produced the greatest decrease in blood glucose in healthy and diabetic mice, even greater than Tolbutamide. Oral administration for 14 days at a dose of 1000 mg/kg of body weight per day to diabetic mice normalized glucose levels at the end of this period.
Xia and Wang have conducted various investigations on the antihyperglycemic effect of the hydromethanolic extract (70%) of C. ficifolia administered in rats with diabetes induced by Streptozotocin, at a dose of 300 and 600 mg/kg of body weight per day for a 30 day period. These authors observed a significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and an increase in plasma insulin and total hemoglobin. These same authors, in a subsequent investigation, analyzed the lipid profile and glucose tolerance of the same C. ficifolia extract, finding not only a hypoglycemic effect but also a significant decrease in triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and a significant increase in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level.
Bayat et al. evaluated the effect of the C. ficifolia extract (100 g) and probiotic yogurt (150 g) alone or in combination, in a clinical trial in patients with T2DM during 8 weeks. The results showed that C. ficifolia extract and probiotic yogurt alone or in combination, has beneficial effects on lipid profile, glycemic control, and inflammation. Additionally, the administration of the combination of C. ficifolia extract and probiotic yogurt caused a notable decrease in atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins levels, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), suggesting a synergistic effect. However, more studies are necessary in order to determine the role of the parts of this possible synergistic effect.
Read also: Inspiring Health Transformation
In another study, the effect of an aqueous extract of C. ficifolia (200 mg/kg) on the enzymes involved in oxidative stress, glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and reduced glutathione (GSH), was investigated in mice with Streptozotocin-induced diabetes by oral administration, for 30 days. The aqueous extract of C. ficifolia in mice with diabetes significantly reduced glycemia, polydipsia, and hyperphagia and plasma lipid peroxidation. The GSH/GSSG ratio and its redox potential were restored, which explains part of the antioxidant properties of the extract. The authors support the use of the C.
Bioactive molecules
In 2006, Xia and Wang, in search of the identification of bioactive molecules, analyzed the profile of inositols and soluble carbohydrates of the hydro-methanolic extract (70%) of the fruit of C. ficifolia through its derivatization by silylation and identification and quantification by gas chromatography. Identified molecules by gas chromatography in C. ficifolia extracts.
Previous research describes inositol molecules, especially DCI, as mediators of insulin action through the administration of synthetic D-chiro-inositol (at doses of 10 and 15 mg/kg) in Streptozotocin diabetic rats, where a decrease of between 30 and 40% in the blood glucose concentration was observed. Xia and Wang employed the extract of C. ficifolia containing 10-20 mg/kg DCI and administered it orally to Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Diabetes Explained
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when glucose in the blood is too high. It develops when the pancreas is not making any or not enough insulin or when the body is not responding to the insulin correctly. Diabetes is very common and can happen at any age. It often goes undiagnosed for quite some time.
- Prediabetes: This is when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not quite high enough to be considered diabetes.
- Type 1 Diabetes: This type of diabetes is considered an autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
- Type 2 Diabetes: The most common type of diabetes is type 2. This is when your body does not produce enough insulin or is not able to use it well.
- Gestational Diabetes: This form of diabetes happens as a result of hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Many people who suffer from diabetes do not notice early signs of it which can lead to a late diagnosis. It is important to get high blood sugar levels under control as soon as one finds out they are high. High blood sugar damages organs and tissues throughout the body.
For type 1 diabetes, insulin treatment is needed. It replaces the hormone the body is not able to produce on its own. For the other types of diabetes, diet & exercise play a critical role in managing them.
- Diet: Keeping track of how many carbohydrates are eaten in a day is important when dealing with diabetes. Carbs have the most effect on blood sugar and can cause it to spike to very high levels. Maintaining a low-carb diet can help avoid these spikes. It is also recommended to avoid foods and drinks that contain a lot of sugar and food that is high in fat.
- Exercise: Exercise helps cells in the body react to insulin more effectively. This can help lower and maintain healthy levels of sugar in the blood. Twenty to thirty minutes of exercise per day is recommended. Some great exercises to get you moving include walking, swimming, aerobic dancing, weightlifting, yoga, and pilates.