Currently, botanicals and herbs are used in the form of extracts for their anti-diabetic properties. Several clinical studies have confirmed that medicinal plant extracts exhibit anti-diabetic activity and may help restore the function of pancreatic β-cells.
Allium sativum
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, belongs to the Liliaceae family and has been shown to have potential benefits in diabetes management. Ethanol garlic extract (10 ml/kg/day) often exhibits hypoglycemic effects. Garlic extract showed greater efficacy than the diabetes drug glibenclamide. Ethyl acetate, ethanol and petroleum ether extracts displayed anti-diabetic effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Garlic exhibits a variety of medicinal benefits, including antiplatelet, antibacterial properties, lowering blood pressure, and reducing cholesterol levels in the body.
Aloe borbadensis
Aloe barbadensis is commonly known as Ghiknavar and belongs to the Liliaceae family. It appears to be a cactus plant whose green, blade-shaped leaves are thick, narrow, hairy and filled with a transparent, sticky gel. Oral administration of water-based aloe vera extract at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight effectively reduces blood sugar levels. Aloe vera gel has many therapeutic effects, including anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. It has been shown to increase glutathione levels fourfold in diabetic rats.
Azadirachta indica
This plant is commonly known as Neem and is part of the Meliaceae family. It can be found in India and Burma. Ethanol and aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica show reduction in blood sugar levels at high doses. It can be used along with allopathic medicines in type 2 diabetes patients whose blood sugar levels are not adequately controlled by allopathic medicines alone. Global patients are often prescribed natural neem tablets for treatment. The extract increases blood flow by widening the blood vessels and helps reduce blood sugar levels in the body.
Brassica juncea
Brassica juncea is commonly known as rye and belongs to the Crucifera family. It is commonly used as a spice in various dishes. A liquid extract from the seeds has been found to reduce blood sugar levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Doses of 250, 350, 450 mg/kg of the extract displayed hypoglycemic effects.
Carica papaya
Carica papaya is commonly known as papaya and belongs to the Caricaceae family. Extracts of seeds and leaves have been shown to have benefits such as lowering blood sugar levels, lowering lipid levels in the body, and promoting wound healing in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
Catharanthus Roseus
This plant is also called Vinca Roseus and belongs to the Apocynaceae family. Methanolic extract of leaves and twigs reduces blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. In animals, oral administration of a dose of 500 mg/kg of leaves and twigs extract helped reduce blood sugar levels. The way Catharanthus roseus works is by increasing the production of insulin from Langerhans' β cells.
Coriandrum Sativum
This plant is commonly known as coriander and belongs to the Apiaceae family. It is commonly used as a spice in various dishes. 200 mg/kg seed extract often enhances the function of Langerhans' β cells and synthesizes insulin from the pancreas and reduces serum glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Coriander sativum extract has properties that lower blood sugar levels and aid in insulin synthesis.
Eugenia jambolana
It is called Jamun and is part of the Myrtaceae family. It consists of the dehydrated seeds and ripe fruits of Eugenia jambolana. It contains malvidin 3-laminarbioside and ferulic acid as active ingredients. Dry seed extract (200 mg/kg) is used in the treatment of diabetes.
Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre, commonly known as gudmar, belongs to the Asclepidaceae family. It is also called a “sugar destroying” plant. The extract of G. leaf sylvestre (3.4/13.4 mg/kg) demonstrated a significant reduction in blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced rats. It is commonly used in Indian Ayurvedic treatments for the management of diabetes. The living elements in G. sylvestre contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and carbohydrates. It is commonly used for cancer therapy, inflammation management, and treatment of various types of infections.
Mangifera Indica
Commonly known as Mango, Belongs to the Anacardiaceae family Antidiabetic activity was demonstrated by the leaf extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg. However, oral administration of the aqueous extract did not affect blood glucose levels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
Momordica charantia
It is widely recognized as bitter melon (bitter gourd) and is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. The main constituents of Momordica Charantia are Momordic I, Momordic II and Cucurbitacin B. It is used in the management of diabetes. It contains lectin which has insulin like properties. Lectin is a non-protein substance that binds to insulin receptors. This lectin lowers blood sugar levels by affecting peripheral tissues. M. charantia fruit extract exhibits hypoglycemic effects at a dose of 200 mg/kg.
Ocimum sanctum
Ocimum sanctum, also known as basil, is a member of the Labiatae family. It is commonly seen all over India. It is used in Indian Ayurvedic treatments for the management of various diseases. Several animal studies have shown that aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves at a dose of 200 mg/kg displayed hypoglycemic effects in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. It is used to treat viral infections, fungal infections, reduce stress, tumors and gastric ulcers.
Tinospora cardifolia
It is commonly known as Guduchi and belongs to the Menispermaceae family. The active constituents of T. cardifolia include diterpene compounds such as tinosporone, tinosporic acid, syringane, berberine, and guilloine. Root extract of T. cardifolia demonstrated reduction in blood and urine glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats when administered orally at a dose of 50–200 mg/kg for a period of 6 weeks. It is commonly used in Indian Ayurvedic treatments for the management of diabetes. Root extract prevents loss of body weight. Various plant parts such as roots, stems, leaves and fruits are usually extracted using methods such as maceration, infusion, percolation, decoction and Soxhlet extraction. Mainly, various solvents like ethanol, methanol and petroleum ether are commonly used.
Herbal Marketed Formulations Of Diabetes Mellitus
Many poly herbal formulations are used in the Indian market for the treatment of diabetes in various forms like vati, churna, ark, kwath, etc. These formulas may include water-based extracts or powdered forms of various plant parts that are used to treat diabetes. These mixtures are known as poly herbal formulations because they contain 3 to 25 herbs in the mixture.
Aegle marmelos
It is commonly known as vine and is a member of the Rutaceae family. In India, various parts of plants such as leaves, bark, roots and fruits are used in Ayurveda and medicinal treatments to cure various diseases. These plants have been passed down through generations for their healing properties. Neem and basil leaves are A. It is mixed with marmelos leaves, dried, powdered and taken three times daily for 15 days. Animal studies have shown that Aegal marmelos at doses of 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg may be effective in the treatment of several diseases including cancer, viral infections and microbial diseases.
Allium cepa
Allium cepa, commonly known as onion or shallot, is a member of the Liliaceae family. Antihyperglycemic activity displayed by ether-soluble and ether-insoluble components of dehydrated onion powder. It contains the chemical compound allyl propyl disulfide, also known as APDS. This compound prevents the breakdown of insulin by the liver and stimulates the pancreas to make more insulin. As a result, the concentration of insulin increases and the glucose level in the blood decreases. Essential oil extracted from red onion (100 mg/kg) often exhibits antihyperglycemic, antistatin and antioxidant properties in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. A dose of 300 mg/kg is the most effective percentage for treating hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Various clinical trials and animal studies have shown that onions are used in the treatment of asthma, diabetes, cancer and various viral diseases.
Challenges Of Herbal Medicines In India
Despite the medicinal benefits of herbs, there are many challenges associated with their use. These include variability in the amounts of active ingredients due to lack of consistency, absence of specific dosages prescribed to patients, irregular administration times, and non-standardized manufacturing methods. The issue now is "how to make these herbal remedies overcome concerns about pharmaceutical drugs." Isolating and classifying the active components of medicinal plants will require extensive research. Moreover, both herbal remedies and conventional medicine are not able to cure many diseases effectively.
Investigating alternative medical treatments involves studying plants and understanding their potential benefits through research. The future of herbal treatments for diabetes is promising, with many people using herbal medicines and new native remedies being added to existing treatments. About 80% of individuals in developing countries, especially those living in rural areas, depend on traditional medical treatments for their health care needs. There has been a resurgence of interest in herbal medicines in developed countries as many people prefer products derived from natural sources. Thus, it is important to distinguish between herbal medicines prescribed by a healthcare provider and over-the-counter herbal remedies used for self-treatment.
The rapidly increasing prevalence of diabetes is a major concern for global public health. Recently, new active drugs have been obtained from plants and have antidiabetic properties that are more potent than the oral hypoglycemic agents used in established treatment. In recent times, there has been a focus on identifying plants with potential anti-diabetic properties that may benefit individuals. It may also provide evidence for the promotion of a new oral drug for the management of diabetes.
Conclusion
Diabetes is a widespread endocrine disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a collection of metabolic disorders marked by high blood sugar levels due to problems with insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The increase in resistance and population of patients at risk, as well as limited options for diabetes drugs that often come with issues such as side effects and unwanted hypoglycemic effects, have led researchers to focus on conventional drugs. These alternative treatments have fewer side effects, have a wide range of biological activities, and do not require complex drug synthesis, making them very attractive. This review article may be helpful to health professionals, scientists, and scholars who are interested in developing evidence-based alternative medicine to treat different types of diabetes using herbal preparations. Compounds and extracts obtained from various natural sources are important for the development of drugs in diabetes and the management of high blood sugar.
