Bio-efficacy of medicinal plants used for the management of diabetes mellitus in Gabon. An ethnopharmacological approach

Abstract

Background/Aim:People suffering of diabetes increased significantly worldwide. Population, in Sub-Saharan Africa and mainly in Gabon, rely on medicinal plants to manage diabetes, as well in rural as in urban areas. This study aimed to survey a wide range of Gabonese plants for their antidiabetic activity.Materials and Methods:This study focused on the identification of medicinal plants used in the local treatment of diabetes mellitus. Ethnobotanical investigations were carried out in rural and urban areas of three provinces of Gabon using a semi-structured interview.Results:About 50 plant species belonging to 31 families and 50 genera were recorded, a majority of which have been documented previously to have medicinal properties. Most have documented antidiabetic properties with characterized therapeutic chemical compounds. Of the plant parts used for treatment, stem barks were employed most frequently (50%), followed by leaves (26%); the remaining 24% comprised roots, fibers, fruit, bulbs, flowers, rhizom, skin, and stem. Regarding the mode of preparation, decoction was the most widely used (58%), followed by maceration (18%) and infusion (14%). Almost all the plant products were administered orally (98%).Conclusions:Taken in concert, this study highlights the possibility of exploiting traditional knowledge of specific medicinal plants for the inexpensive treatment and management of diabetes.

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

“…In vivo: Aqueous leaf extract at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg were administered to normal, sub-diabetic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Dose of 100 mg/kg showed significant hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic effects comparable to gliblenclamide at 0.6 mg/kg (Chika and Bello, 2010) Antibacterial (Tjeck et al, 2017) Euphorbiaceae: Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach  Thonn.) Mull.Arg.…”

“…In vivo: Ethanolic leaves extract at 600 mg/kg given to alloxan-induced Wistar rats decreased significantly blood glucose level compared to metformin at 500 mg/kg 5h after treatment (Sutar et al, 2009) Antimicrobial and hypolipidemic properties (Tjeck et al, 2017) Fabaceae: Phaseolus vulgaris L.…”

“…In vivo: Rats chow was supplemented with (100g) 10% w/w and (200g) 20% w/w of fine powder of leaves for 28 days to alloxan-induced diabetic rats and normal rats. Blood glucose levels in treated groups was significantly reduced compared to control and at levels comparable to glibenclamide group (Hamzah et al, 2012) Antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, analgesic and antiinflammatory (Tjeck et al, 2017) Poaceae Manvitha et al, 2014) Poaceae: Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.…”

“…Alkaloids, tannins, steroids, glycosides, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Triterpenes (Tjeck et al, 2017) Apocynaceae: Alstonia congensis Engl.…”

“…Acute toxicity: A single dose of 175, 550, 2000 and 5000 mg/kg of Fermented Virgin Coconut Oil was administered orally in rats and no mortality or gross toxicity were seen (Ah et al, 2016) Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, resins, alkaloids, carbohydrate, proteins, and fibers. Tannins, saponins, glycosides, steroids and anthraquinones (Tjeck et al, 2017) Asteraceae: Ageratum conyzoides L.…”