By Zarfe Ayesha, Athar Mahmood, Safura Bibi, Mah Rukh

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to be the most common metabolic disorder worldwide. Based on WHO reports (2004), the occurrence of type II diabetes affects more than 170 million individuals worldwide.

It is estimated that the total number of people suffering from diabetes will reach 239 million by the year 2010. If diabetes is neglected over long periods of time, the metabolic abnormalities are capable of contributing towards the development of complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular. In short, diabetes causes and will continue to cause morbidity, mortality, and long-term complications thus deserving every attention to solve, or at least minimize, disease-related problems.

The ever increasing reports on traditional medicine from different parts of the world support this trend. In countries where traditional medicine plays a dominant role in imparting the primary health care, vegetables, culinary herbs, and medicinal plants are one of the main choices in the management of diabetes. Contrary to insulin dependent DM (IDDM), non-insulin dependent DM (NIDDM) could be partially managed by using herbal products already widely practiced throughout the world. In this aspect, plants can be considered as an effective dietary adjunct in the management of DM and a potential source for the discovery of orally active antidiabetic agents. Fraction of about 250,000 higher plants has been screened in depth for their hypoglycemic activity, and an even smaller number has been researched to identify the active ingredients.

F.religiosahas been shown to possess a wide spectrum ofin vitroandin vivopharmacological activities: antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, antitumor, antiulcer, antianxiety, anthelmintic, antiasthmatic, immunomodulatory, estrogenic, endothelin receptor antagonist, apoptosis inducer, cognitive enhancer, and antihypertensive.

Decoction prepared from the bark is used in treatment of diabetes. The plant is believed to contain several bioactive principles including tannins, saponins, polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, and sterols.

Jamun has been reported to be used in numerous complementary and alternative medicine systems of India and, before the discovery of insulin, was a frontline antidiabetic medication even in Europe.

Eugenia jambolanais one of the widely used medicinal plants in the treatment of diabetes and several other diseases. The plant is rich in compounds containing anthocyanins, glucoside, ellagic acid, isoquercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, and hydrolysable tannins (1-0-galloyl castalagin and casuarinin).

Momordica charantiais a popular fruit used for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is often used as a vegetable in diet. Bitter gourd contains bioactive substances with antidiabetic potential such as vicine, charantin, and triterpenoids along with some antioxidants. Several preclinical studies have documented the antidiabetic and hypoglycaemic effects ofMomordica charantiathrough various hypothesised mechanisms.

Several studies have demonstrated antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities, inMomordica charantiahowever, the antidiabetic activity has been widely reviewed.

Antidiabetic properties of tulsi were appreciated in Ayurveda. A significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and urea along with a simultaneous increase in glycogen, hemoglobin, and protein in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats has been observed when rats were supplemented with ethanolic extract ofO. sanctum. Leaf extract ofO. sanctumL has been reported to stimulate the physiological pathways of insulin secretion.O. sanctumL. showed serum glucose-lowering effect when the extract was given to normal rats for 30 days.O. sanctumL. is reported to reduce the serum level of cortisol and glucose in male mice showing its antiperoxidative effect.

Pterocarpus marsupiumis reported to have not only hypoglycemic property but also-cell protective and regenerative properties, effects which have been attributed to the flavonoid content in the plant.

Several studies have demonstrated that fenugreek seed extract, mucilage of seeds, and leaves can decrease blood glucose and cholesterol levels in humans and experimental diabetic animals. The therapeutic potential of fenugreek is primarily due to the presence of saponins, 4-hydroxyisoleucine and trigonelline, an alkaloid and high-fiber content.

The antihyperglycemic effect has been correlated with decline in somatostatin and high plasma glucagon levels.

Aqueous extract ofG. sylvestrehas been reported to cause reversible increases in intracellular calcium and insulin secretion in mouse and humancells with type 2 diabetes. Regeneration of the cells in the pancreas might raise the insulin levels.G. sylvestrecan also help prevent adrenal hormones from stimulating the liver to produce glucose in mice, thereby reducing blood sugar levels. A group of triterpene saponins, known as gymnemic acids and gymnemasaponins are found to be present inG. sylvestrewhich are responsible for the reported pharmacological properties.

Biological and therapeutic functions of garlic are basically due to the organosulphur compounds they possess. These chemical components are thought to exhibit numerous biological effects including lowering of cholesterol and glucose, cancer prevention, and antimicrobial propertie. Studies have proved that the consumption of garlic significantly decreased fasting blood sugar levels. Diallyl trisulfide has been proved to improve glycemic control in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Incorporation of garlic juice resulted in better utilization of glucose in glucose tolerance tests performed in rabbits, while allicin at a dose of 250mg/kg was 60% as effective as tolbutamide in alloxan-induced diabetic patients.

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Plants Used For The Treatment Of Diabetes - Technology Times Pakistan