Abstract

CURRENT STATUS OF HERBAL DRUGS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS

Ijtaba Fazili, Masood Tanvir and G. N. Bader*

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder widespread in all parts of the world and is becoming a serious threat for mankind. There are lots of chemical agents available for controlling & treating diabetic patients, but total recovery from diabetes has not been reported up to this date. In addition to adverse effects, drug treatments are not always satisfactory in maintaining euglycemia (normal concentration of glucose level in blood) and avoiding late stage diabetic complications. Alternative to these synthetic agents, plants provide a potential source of hypoglycemic drugs and are widely used in several traditional systems of medicine to treat this disease or are used as adjuvants to many allopathic antidiabetic drugs. Several medicinal plants have been investigated for their beneficial effects in different types of diabetes. Overall there has been great demand for plant products due to low cost, easy availability and lesser side effects. Some of the important plants are discussed here which have stood test of the time & proven beneficial in treatment of diabetes. One of the etiologic factors implicated in the development of diabetes and its complications is the damage induced by free radicals and hence an antidiabetic compound with antioxidant properties would be more beneficial. Therefore information on antioxidant effects of these medicinal plants is also included.

Keywords: euglycemia, herbal drugs, antioxidant properties.