Antidiabetic Plants for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Associated Bacterial Infections

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the metabolic disease with the highest morbidity rates worldwide. The condition is characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and chronic inflammation, among other detrimental conditions. These decrease the efficiency of the immune system, leading to an increase in the susceptibility to bacterial infections. Maintaining an optimal blood glucose level is crucial in relation to the treatment of T2DM, because if the level of this carbohydrate is lowered, the risk of infections can be reduced. Currently, this is achieved using synthetic drug treatments that seek to moderately inhibit digestive enzymes (e.g., α-amylase and α-glucosidase), such as acarbose, voglibose, miglitol, etc. However, the use of these compounds also generates unwanted side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach aches and a loss of appetite. Therefore, there is an increasing demand to find effective and safe alternatives for treating T2DM, such as herbal treatments. As a result, there has been a search for possible drugs from plants with both antidiabetic and antibacterial activity. This study presents a review of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of T2DM, secondary effects of the disease such as bacterial infections, and general comprehension of synthetic and natural product treatments to help patients.

Assessment of Anticancer Properties of Argemone mexicana L. and Berberine: A Comparative Study

“…Plants possess extensive biological and medicinal properties, making them a valuable source of chemical compounds with potential therapeutic effects [1]. Moreover, plants are renowned for their high safety profile, wide availability, easy accessibility, and affordability [2,3].…”

Identification of dual-target isoxazolidine-isatin hybrids with antidiabetic potential: Design, synthesis, in vitro and multiscale molecular modeling approaches

“…Currently, clinically approved inhibitors of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes are acarbose, miglitol and voglibose [ 32 , 33 ]. Meanwhile, these drugs possess various adverse effects including stress, allergic reactions, gastrointestinal disturbances, infections, flatulence, and diarrhea and therefore being side effect-prone [ [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] ]. This has encouraged scientists to exert much efforts in designing and developing most potent, effective and safe dual α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitors.…”

α-Glucosidase Inhibitors from Cold-Pressed Black Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Meal: Characterization of New Furofuran Lignans, Kinetic Study, and In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion

“…To avoid increasing glucose levels in the blood vessels of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, treating patients with α-glucosidase inhibitors such as acarbose is recommended. However, adverse gastrointestinal effects are common in patients treated with acarbose, possibly decreasing the efficacy of diabetes therapy . To avoid the deficiency of acarbose in diabetes therapy, many alternative natural products have been studied for their antidiabetic properties. − Black sesame (Sesamum indicum) has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels in animal models of diabetes .…”