Antidiabetic potential of some less commonly used plants in traditional medicinal systems of India and Africa

Abstract

The incidence of diabetes mellitus continue to rise annually all over the world with India and Nigeria having recorded cases of 65.1 and 3.9 million respectively in 2013 and expected to increase by a large amount in 2035. Hyperglycemia is a pre-condition for the development of diabetic complications and is accompanied by an increase in the production of free radicals. The present available treatment option for diabetes like sulfonylurea, metformin and alpha-glucosidase are restricted by their limited actions, secondary failure rates, and side-effects; and unaffordable to the majority of the population. Hence, the need to screen for more medicinal plants with antidiabetic ability due to the fact that plants are; biodegradable, safe and cheap with fewer side-effects. In this review article, we have presented the current status of diabetes in India and Nigeria and the role of some less commonly used medicinal plants from both countries that have antidiabetic potential.

An overview of anti-diabetic plants used in Gabon: Pharmacology and toxicology

“…Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Antioxidant, Antimalarial, Diuretic Hypotensive (Ilusanya et al, 2012;Woode et al, 2012;Mohammed et al, 2015;Karioti et al;Titanji et al, 2008;Somova et al, 2001 .…”

Effect of Supplementation of Withania Coagulans Fruit on the Fasting Plasma Glucose Levels of Type 2 Diabetic Subjects

“…It is a complicated and divergent metabolic disorder which in addition to blood sugar control requires the management of lipid parameters, blood pressure, and thrombotic factors. The treatment for diabetes is both difficult and tedious; it is expensive and unaffordable by majority of the population [2].…”

“…The long-term usage of modern drugs exhibits several side effects and complications to different organs of the body which ultimately lead to cardiovascular problems, liver disease, kidney disease, and weight gain too. These synthetic drugs are valuable but restricted by their side effects such as hypoglycemia, damage to the liver, lactic acidosis, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and loss of appetite [2,3].…”

Quick Identification of Piperidine Alkaloid from Roots of Grewia nervosa and Their Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity

“…Hence, there is a tremendous scope in finding inhibitors from natural sources that can overcome these deficiencies. As consequences, several medicinal plants have been screened to get alternative natural inhibitors of α ‐glucosidase for the last two decades . In continuation of our interest in natural products and antidiabetic compounds, herein, we report the isolation of new glucosidase inhibitor from roots of Grewia nervosa .…”