A-E - Glossary

D-Pinitol

Also known as Inzitol™ and 3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol. D-Pinitol is known to enhance creatine uptake in skeletal muscle, due to its insulin-like properties. However, in the one human study performed, a dose of 1.0 g (500 mg taken twice per day), was used to achieve this effect.  Women w/PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) sometimes use D-pinitol as an alternative to the closely related D-chiro-inositol, to treat insulin resistance and...

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Beta-Sitosterol

A plant compound with a structure similar to cholesterol. It has therapeutic uses for reducing serum cholesterol and treating the symptoms of benign protstatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). Beta-sitosterol is one of the plant sterols used in functional foods designed to reduce serum cholesterol (margarine,...

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Banaba

This is the common name for Lagerstroemia speciosa, a tree native to Southeast Asia. The leaves have been used in traditional medicine in the Phillipines as a treatment for diabetes. As it turns out, the leaves are high in corosolic acid, which has been shown to improve glucose control in human and animal studies. It appears to do this by stimulating glucose uptake in muscle...

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Ajuga turkestanica

A medicinal plant grown in Uzebekistan and source of turkesterone.

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Dandelion

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is an edible and medicinal plant used in alternative medicine.  Dandelion root extract is used to treat digestive disorders and improve liver function.  Dandelion leaf extract is often added to weight loss supplements as a natural diuretic. See: “Dandelion & Dandelion Root: Benefits and Side Effects” for more...

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Ecdysterone

See 20-Hydroxyecdysone.

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