Traditional Medicines derived from medicinal plants are used by about 60% of the world's population. This review focuses on Indian Herbal drugs and plants used in the treatment of diabetes, especially in India. Diabetes is an important human ailment afflicting many from various walks of life in different countries. In India it is proving to be a major health problem, especially in the urban areas. Though there are various approaches to reduce the ill effects of diabetes and its secondary complications, herbal formulations are preferred due to lesser side effects and low cost. A list of medicinal plants with proven antidiabetic and related beneficial effects and of herbal drugs used in treatment of diabetes is compiled. These include, Allium sativum, Eugenia jambolana, Momordica charantia Ocimum sanctum, Phyllanthus amarus, Pterocarpus marsupium, Tinospora cordifolia, Trigonella foenum graecum and Withania somnifera. 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.

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Indian Herbs and Herbal Drugs Used for the Treatment of Diabetes

Pharmacological actions and potential uses of Momordica charantia: a review

In this paper, the biosynthesis process of phenolic compounds in plants is summarized, which includes the shikimate, pentose phosphate and phenylpropanoid pathways. Plant phenolic compounds can act as antioxidants, structural polymers (lignin), attractants (flavonoids and carotenoids), UV screens (flavonoids), signal compounds (salicylic acid and flavonoids) and defense response chemicals (tannins and phytoalexins). From a human physiological standpoint, phenolic compounds are vital in defense responses, such as anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities. Therefore, it is beneficial to eat such plant foods that have a high antioxidant compound content, which will cut down the incidence of certain chronic diseases, for instance diabetes, cancers and cardiovascular diseases, through the management of oxidative stress. Furthermore, berries and other fruits with low-amylase and high-glucosidase inhibitory activities could be regarded as candidate food items in the control of the early stages of hyperglycemia associated with type 2 diabetes.

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An Overview of Plant Phenolic Compounds and Their Importance in Human Nutrition and Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Grain legume proteins and nutraceutical properties

Leads from Indian medicinal plants with hypoglycemic potentials

Effect of Coccinia indica leaves on antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The antioxidant effect of an aqueous extract of Phaseolus vulgaris pods, an indigenous plant used in Ayurvedic medicine in India, was studied in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Oral administration of Phaseolus vulgaris pod extract (PPEt; 200 mg/kg body weight) for 45 days resulted in a significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and hydroperoxides. The extract also causes a significant increase in reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase in the liver and kidneys of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. These results clearly show the antioxidant property of PPEt. The effect of PPEt at 200 mg/kg body weight was more effective than glibenclamide.

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Antioxidant effect of Phaseolus vulgaris in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Administration of Coccinia indica leaf extract to normal and streptozotocin diabetic animals exhibited significant hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effect and reversed biochemical complications. Oral administration of 200mg/ kg of ethanol extract of Coccinia indica leaves (CLEt) to diabetic animals for 45 days resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and an increase in total haemoglobin and plasma insulin. Similarly, the administration of CLEt to normal animals resulted in a significant hypoglycemic effect. The activities of hepatic hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, a lipogenic enzyme, were measured in the liver of normal, diabetic, normal rats separately treated with CLEt and glibenclamide, and diabetic rats treated separately with CLEt and glibenclamide. The activities of the lipogenic enzyme and hexokinase were significantly decreased, whereas the activities of gluconeogenic enzymes were signific...

Effect of Coccinia indica on Blood Glucose, Insulin and Key Hepatic Enzymes in Experimental Diabetes

The effect of Phaseolus vulgaris, an indigenous plant used in ayurvedic medicine in India, on circulatory antioxidants and lipids was studied in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Oral administration of an aqueous extract of P. vulgaris pods (PPEt, 200 mg/kg body weight) for 45 days significantly reduced the elevated blood glucose, serum triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids, total cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The extract also caused a significant decrease in plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), hydroperoxides, vitamin E, and ceruloplasmin. The decreased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, antiatherogenic index (AAI), plasma insulin, vitamin C, and glutathione in the diabetic rats were also reversed toward normalization. The results show the antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic properties of PPEt in addition to its antidiabetic action. PPEt was found to be more effective than glibenclamide.

Effect of Phaseolus vulgaris on circulatory antioxidants and lipids in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Diamed is a herbal formulation composed of the aqueous extracts of three medicinal plants (Azardirachta indica, Cassia auriculata and Momordica charantia). We have investigated Diamed for its possible antihyperglycaemic action in rats with alloxan-induced experimental diabetes. Oral administration of Diamed (1.39 (0.25 g), 1.67 (0.30 g) or 1.94 (0.35 g) mL kg(-1)) for 30 days resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, and an increase in plasma insulin and total haemoglobin. The effect was highly significant after administration of the 1.94 mL (0.35 g) g(-1) body weight dose. Diamed also prevented a decrease in body weight. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed in experimental diabetic rats in which there was a significant improvement in glucose tolerance in the animals treated with Diamed. The effect was compared with 600 microg kg(-1) glibenclamide. The results showed that Diamed had antihyperglycaemic action in experimental diabetes in rats.

S. Venkateswaran

Papers

Effect of Coccinia indica leaves on antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Antioxidant effect of Phaseolus vulgaris in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Effect of Coccinia indica on Blood Glucose, Insulin and Key Hepatic Enzymes in Experimental Diabetes

Effect of Phaseolus vulgaris on circulatory antioxidants and lipids in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Antihyperglycaemic effect of Diamed, a herbal formulation, in experimental diabetes in rats.