Abstract

ANTI-DIABETIC SIDDHA HERBAL, POLYHERBAL AND HERBOMINERAL FORMULATIONS: REVIEW OF LITERATURE WITH EMPHASIS ON MECHANISM OF ACTION

Bharathi Baskar MD (Siddha)*, Manimekalai J. MD (Siddha), Aswini P. MD (Siddha) and M. D. Saravana Devi MD (Siddha)

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Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder which produces many complications and is a leading cause of morbidity. The co-morbidities and complications result in coronary arterial disease, renal dysfunction, neuropathy and retinopathy. Adequate glycemic control alone is not enough as there is a need for reversal of end organ damage and alleviation of complications. Unfortunately, many modern formulations leads to side effects like hypoglycaemia, gastrointestinal disturbances and vitamin deficiency. Many herbal and polyherbal, herbo-mineral formulations are available in siddha literatures which provide good glycemic control with pleiotropic effects such as antioxidant property, neural protection and renal protection. This article briefly discusses such medicines, their polyherbal, herbomineral formulations with mechanism of action.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Madhumegam, Herbal preparation, Herbo-mineral, Siddha, Integrative medicine.