Ethnobotany, pharmacology and phytochemistry of medicinal plants used for management of Diabetes mellitus in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance For decades, patients in East Africa have used herbal medicine as an alternative and affordable therapeutic option for the treatment of diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM). As a result, the primary objective of this research was to thoroughly investigate the plants employed for treating DM in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and gather pertinent ethnopharmacological and ethnomedicinal knowledge that could be applied in the development of therapies for DM. Aim of the study The study is aimed at critically reviewing the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of medicinal plants used for treating diabetes in East African countries, including Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Method A search for relevant articles was conducted on PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Open Theses, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Scopus, and the identified articles were evaluated for quality, relevance, and taxonomical accuracy before undergoing review. Results The study identified 140 plant species used by local communities for the management of DM in East Africa, with decoction and infusion being the most common preparation methods. The leaves, root, and stem bark were the most frequently used parts. The in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the antidiabetic effect of medicinal plants such as Kigelia Africana, Hagenia abyssinica (Rosaceae), Physalis peruviana among other plants used for herbal treatment elicited via stimulation of insulin release, and gluconeogenesis. Phytochemicals present were mainly flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and glycosides. Conclusion The local communities in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo use herbal medicine for managing DM, but only a fraction of these species have scientific evidence. This necessitates additional research to establish the effectiveness, safety and potentially develop novel therapeutics for the management of DM.