Abstract

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN TREATMENT OF DIABETES

*Krishna, Manju Pandey and Amresh Gupta

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Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is caused by insufficient or inefficient production of insulin by the pancreas, causing an imbalance (increase or decrease) in blood glucose levels. Herbal plants have always been a source of highly effective and valuable medicines and are therefore increasingly part of modern high-tech medicine. Several plant-derived small molecules have been proposed to be effective against diabetes and related vascular complications by acting on multiple therapeutic targets. In addition, the biocompatibility of these phytochemicals has increased interest in using them as therapeutic bargaining partners. Various secondary metabolites isolated from plant species have been suggested to have potential hypoglycemic and glucose-suppressive effects. These metabolites include flavonoids, sterols, alkaloids, phenols, and possess the ability to stimulate insulin release from pancreatic beta cells, inhibit glucose absorption in the gut, stimulate hepatic gluconeogenesis, and/or It may be mediated by increased glucose utilization achieved in the body. The WHO Expert Panel on Diabetes suggested further research, as the herb was repeatedly found to have fewer side effects and be less toxic. Herbal medicines with proven anti-diabetic and beneficial effects include Allium sativum, Momordica charantia, Eugenia jambolana and Gymnema sylvestre.

Keywords: Hypoglycaemic activity, medicinal plants, insulin.