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. 2022 Jul 3;27(13):4278. doi: 10.3390/molecules27134278
Pharmacologically Active Phytomolecules Isolated from Traditional Antidiabetic Plants and Their Therapeutic Role for the Management of Diabetes Mellitus
Prawej Ansari 1,2,*, Samia Akther 1, J M A Hannan 1, Veronique Seidel 3, Nusrat Jahan Nujat 1, Yasser H A Abdel-Wahab 2
Editors: Rudolf Bauer, Jelena S Katanic Stankovic
PMCID: PMC9268530 PMID: 35807526
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic complication that affects people of all ages. The increased prevalence of diabetes worldwide has led to the development of several synthetic drugs to tackle this health problem. Such drugs, although effective as antihyperglycemic agents, are accompanied by various side effects, costly, and inaccessible to the majority of people living in underdeveloped countries. Medicinal plants have been used traditionally throughout the ages to treat various ailments due to their availability and safe nature. Medicinal plants are a rich source of phytochemicals that possess several health benefits. As diabetes continues to become prevalent, health care practitioners are considering plant-based medicines as a potential source of antidiabetic drugs due to their high potency and fewer side effects. To better understand the mechanism of action of medicinal plants, their active phytoconstituents are being isolated and investigated thoroughly. In this review article, we have focused on pharmacologically active phytomolecules isolated from medicinal plants presenting antidiabetic activity and the role they play in the treatment and management of diabetes. These natural compounds may represent as good candidates for a novel therapeutic approach and/or effective and alternative therapies for diabetes.
Table 1.use above reference for details
Traditional uses and pharmacological effects of antidiabetic medicinal plants.
| Medicinal Plants | Parts | Traditional Uses | Pharmacological Effects | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves, seeds | Diabetes, wounds, fever, cough, cold, tetanus | Improves β-cell function, inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity | [53,54] |
| Bark, roots | Diabetes, astringent, diarrhea, parasitic worms, diuretic, liver tonic | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake and glucose tolerance | [24,55] |
| Bark | Diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, diarrhea, obesity, dysentery, skin diseases | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion | [56,57,58] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, dysentery, inflammation, ulcer, diarrhea, asthma | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, glucose uptake and metabolism, inhibits aldose reductase and DPP-IV enzyme activity | [56,59,60] |
| Fruit, leaves | Diabetes, cough, diarrhea, stomach ache, leprosy, hypertension, measles | Lowers plasma glucose levels, inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity | [61,62] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, fever, rheumatism, cardiovascular diseases, malaria, wounds, spasms | Lowers blood glucose levels, improves β-cell function, increases insulin secretion | [63,64] |
| Bark, pods | Diabetes, asthma, diarrhea, infections, dysentery, inflammation | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, enhances glucose uptake | [56,65,66] |
| Bark, leaves | Diabetes, eye problems, hemorrhoids, skin diseases, wounds, malaria diarrhea, indigestion | Lowers blood glucose levels, improves glucose tolerance | [16,67] |
| Bulb | Diabetes, bronchitis, hypertension, skin infections, swelling, lower cholesterol level | Increases insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, improves glucose uptake | [68,69] |
| Bulb | Diabetes, fever, hypertension, rheumatism, dysentery, bronchitis, intestinal worms | Increases insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity to cells | [70,71] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, constipation, infections, ulcer, dysentery, piles, rheumatoid arthritis | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, reduces insulin resistance, improves glucose tolerance | [72,73] |
| Leaves, stem bark | Diabetes, fever, hypertension, rheumatism, toothache, piles, dysentery | Lowers blood glucose levels, reduces oxidative stress, decreases total cholesterol and triglyceride levels | [74,75,76] |
| Rhizome | Diabetes, fever, cough, inflammation, infections, night sweats, dementia | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin sensitivity, improves glucose uptake | [77,78] |
| Leaves, bark | Diabetes, inflammation, tumors | Lowers blood glucose levels, improves β-cell function, increases insulin secretion | [79,80] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, wounds, inflammation, hypertension, malaria, insect bites | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose tolerance and β-cell function | [10,81] |
| Bark | Diabetes, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, dysentery, snake bites, stomach disorders, skin diseases, leprosy | Decreases blood glucose levels, improves β-cell function, increases insulin secretion, inhibits DPP-IV enzyme activity | [56,82,83] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, inflammation, heart diseases, coagulation, rheumatism, hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease | Increases insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, improves glucose tolerance | [84,85,86] |
| Rhizome | Diabetes, wounds, indigestion, gastritis, anemia, hepatitis, cardiovascular diseases, gall bladder disorders | Increases insulin sensitivity, improves glucose uptake, enhances GLUT-4 translocation | [87,88,89] |
| Leaves, rhizome | Diabetes, diarrhea, malaria, wounds, anemia, inflammation | Lowers blood glucose levels, decreases glycosylated hemoglobin levels | [78,90] |
| Roots | Diabetes, constipation, ulcers, stomach disorders, cough, inflammation | Increases insulin secretion and action, improves β-cell function, inhibits carbohydrate digestion and absorption | [91,92,93,94] |
| Rhizome | Diabetes, rheumatism, gastrointestinal diseases, influenza, night blindness, diuretic, stomachic | Lowers blood glucose levels, reduces insulin resistance, improves glucose uptake | [95,96] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, malaria skin diseases, infections, cardiovascular diseases, intestinal worms | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves pancreatic β-cell function, inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, enhances glucose uptake | [56,97,98] |
| Fruit | Diabetes, wounds, asthma, malaria, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, fever, infections | Increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake, inhibits α-glucosidase activity | [99,100] |
| Root, bark | Diabetes, eye infections, piles, wounds, snake bites, hemorrhoids, dysentery | Reduces blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion | [101,102] |
| Root | Diabetes, wounds, hepatitis, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, cold, glandular sclerosis | Increases plasma insulin, improves glucose tolerance, protects or prevents islet degeneration | [103,104] |
| Flowers, leaves | Diabetes, inflammation, ulcers, sore throat, infections, contraceptive | Regenerates β-cell function, increases plasma insulin levels, reduces intestinal glucosidase activity | [105,106] |
| Leaves, seeds | Diabetes, arthritis, rheumatism, back pain, coughs, paralysis | Increases insulin secretion and glucose utilization | [16,107] |
| Leaves, stem bark | Diabetes, headache, arthritis, fever, inflammation | Lowers blood glucose levels, inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity | [108,109] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, obesity, asthma | Lowers blood glucose levels, improves glucose uptake and utilization | [56,110,111] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, indigestion, flatulence, stomach aches, constipation, fever | Lowers blood glucose levels, protects pancreatic beta cells, decreases oxidative stress | [112,113] |
| Leaves, bark | Diabetes, fever, infections, wounds, menstrual irregularity, poor eyesight, inflammation, ulcers | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases plasma insulin levels | [114,115] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, heart diseases, diuretic, astringent, stimulant, flatulence | Increases insulin secretion and action, inhibit insulin glycation, DPP-IV enzyme, and α-amylase activity, improves glucose tolerance | [116,117] |
| Whole plant | Diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, toothache, pain, muscle spasms, fever, infections | Increases insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, improves glucose uptake | [118,119] |
| Fruit, leaves | Diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, dengue, malaria, nerve pains, insomnia, constipation | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon secretion | [120,121] |
| Leaves, seeds | Diabetes, skin diseases, rheumatism, constipation, ringworm, infections, inflammation | Lowers blood glucose levels, inhibits α-glucosidase activity | [122,123] |
| Stalk | Diabetes, wounds, constipation, piles, skin diseases, asthma, liver diseases, rheumatism, leprosy | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake and utilization | [56,124,125,126,127] |
| Leaves, roots | Diabetes, hypertension, menstrual irregularity, cancer, wounds, muscle pain | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin sensitivity, improves glucose uptake and utilization | [128,129,130] |
| Root bark | Diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, heart diseases, inflammation, wounds, hypertension | Lowers blood glucose levels, decreases glycosylated hemoglobin levels | [78,131] |
| Bark, leaves | Diabetes, constipation, wounds, liver diseases | Increases insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, improves glucose uptake | [78,132] |
| Bark | Diabetes, common cold, flu, gastrointestinal disorders, bacterial infections, headache, stomach pain | Increases plasma insulin levels, increases insulin sensitivity, inhibits α-amylase activity | [133,134] |
| Fruit | Diabetes, hypertension, infections, scurvy, sore throat, rheumatism | Lowers plasma glucose levels, inhibits α-amylase activity | [135,136] |
| Fruit | Diabetes, insomnia, indigestion, constipation, heartburn, nausea, cardiovascular diseases | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion | [137,138] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, dysentery, fatigue, CNS stimulant, morning sickness, migraine, indigestion, wounds | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases serum insulin levels | [139,140] |
| Rhizome | Diabetes, sore throat, whooping cough, dysentery, neurodegenerative diseases | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin sensitivity, improves glucose uptake | [141,142] |
| Fruit, seeds | Diabetes, pain, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, liver, and kidney diseases | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, inhibits α-glucosidase activity, increases GLUT-4 expression | [143,144] |
| Rhizome | Diabetes, gastric, inflammation, infections, cough, pain, liver diseases | Lowers blood glucose levels, inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, increases insulin secretion, improves peripheral glucose uptake, reduces insulin resistance | [78,145,146] |
| Bark, roots | Diabetes, hepatitis, scabies, bruises, gonorrhea, jaundice, rheumatism | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake and utilization, inhibits DPP-IV enzyme and α-glucosidase activity | [56,147,148] |
| Fruit | Diabetes, night blindness, arthritis, sprains, constipation, asthma, liver diseases, obesity | Increases insulin secretion, protects pancreatic beta cells, decreases glycosylated hemoglobin levels | [149,150] |
| Bark | Diabetes, stomach disorders, dysentery, skin diseases, syphilis, nausea, gonorrhea | Lowers blood glucose levels, reduces serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels | [56,151,152] |
| Leaves, seeds | Diabetes, bronchitis, inflammation, cough | Lowers blood glucose levels, reduces insulin resistance, improves glucose tolerance | [153,154] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, fever, pain, sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, chronic rhinitis, | Increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake, inhibits insulin glycation and DPP-IV enzyme activity, decreases starch digestion | [155,156] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, cough, cold, wounds, fungal infections, fever, sore throat, pain | Increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake | [157,158] |
| Root, bark | Diabetes, cough, chest pain, diarrhea, headache, toothache | Lowers blood glucose levels, inhibits α-glucosidase activity | [78,159] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, skin ulcers, gastritis, constipation, sore throat, liver, and kidney diseases | Lowers blood glucose levels, improves pancreatic β-cell function, increases insulin secretion, inhibits sucrase and maltase activity, improves glucose uptake and metabolism | [56,160,161] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, respiratory diseases, diarrhea, jaundice, tumors, gonorrhea | Increases insulin release from beta cells, inhibits α-glucosidase activity | [162,163] |
| Bark, leaves | Diabetes, hypertension, dysentery, diarrhea, pain, ulcers, asthma | Decrease carbohydrate digestion and absorption, lowers blood glucose levels | [164,165] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, diarrhea, food poisoning, bacterial infections, cough, liver diseases | Inhibits α-amylase activity, decreases glycosylated hemoglobin levels | [166,167] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, cancer | Reduces insulin resistance, improves glucose tolerance | [168,169] |
| Roots | Diabetes, epilepsy, respiratory diseases, paralysis, jaundice, rheumatism | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion | [56,170] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, constipation, jaundice, dyspepsia, hemorrhoids, obesity | Lowers blood glucose levels, regenerates beta cells, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose tolerance | [171,172] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, cancer, hernia, hypertension, jaundice, malaria, yellow fever | Lowers blood glucose levels, inhibits α-amylase activity | [16,173] |
| Roots | Diabetes, diarrhea, snake bites, gastrointestinal disorders, spasms | Lowers blood glucose levels, improves glucose uptake | [174,175] |
| Bark | Diabetes, diarrhea, constipation, dysentery, dermatitis, scabies, goiter | Decreases carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption, lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose tolerance, inhibits DPP-IV enzyme activity | [26,51,176] |
| Roots, seeds | Diabetes, gastric irritations, inflammatory diseases, wounds, and boils | Lowers blood glucose levels, improves β-cell function, increases insulin secretion | [177,178] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, cough, diarrhea, dysentery, pain, contraceptive | Reduces glucose absorption, lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion and hepatic glucose utilization, improves glucose tolerance, inhibits DPP-IV activity | [179,180] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, fever, bacterial and fungal infections, jaundice, muscle pain | Lowers fasting blood glucose levels, improves glucose uptake and utilization | [181,182] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, asthma, malaria, chicken pox, hypertension, measles | Lowers elevated blood glucose levels, improves glucose tolerance | [183,184] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections, asthma, bronchitis, atherosclerosis | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake and metabolism | [56,185] |
| Leaves, seeds | Diabetes, constipation, piles, dysentery, asthma, anemia, hypertension, hemorrhage, | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake, inhibits α-glucosidase and DPP-IV activity | [56,186,187] |
| Leaves, seeds | Diabetes, malaria, hypertension, scabies, liver diseases, obesity, ulcers, measles | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion and glucose uptake, improves glucose tolerance, decreases gluconeogenesis, inhibits α-glucosidase activity | [56,134,188] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, asthma, enlarged liver, bacterial infections, eye problems, piles, influenza, diuretic | Reduces glucose absorption, lowers blood glucose levels, improves glucose uptake, inhibits α-amylase activity | [189,190] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, piles, dysentery, itching, bruises, inflammation | Lowers blood glucose levels, inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity | [78,191] |
| Flowers | Diabetes, dysentery, ulcers, hypertension, pain, inflammation, snake bites | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, decreases glucosylated hemoglobin levels | [192,193] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, back pain, paralysis, heart diseases, bacterial infections, malaria | Decreases carbohydrate digestion and absorption, lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion and sensitivity, improves glucose uptake and utilization | [194,195] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, headaches, constipation, coughs, kidney diseases, warts | Inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, reduces oxidative stress, inhibits glycogenolysis | [196,197,198] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, ringworm, skin diseases, dysentery, dyspepsia, bronchitis, asthma | Increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake and utilization | [149,199] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, constipation, urinary tract infections, asthma, hypertension, intestinal diseases | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases antioxidant activity | [200,201] |
| Roots | Diabetes, insomnia, anorexia, confusion, hemorrhage | Improves peripheral insulin action, increases insulin sensitivity, decreases carbohydrate absorption | [202,203] |
| Stem bark | Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, wounds, rheumatism, intestinal parasites | Lowers blood glucose levels, improves glucose tolerance | [16,204] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, blood cancer | Reduces insulin resistance, inhibits α-amylase and DPP-IV enzyme activity | [149,205] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, spleen, liver and kidney diseases, gonorrhea, stomach problems | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves insulin sensitivity | [206,207] |
| Husk | Diabetes, constipation, diarrhea, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hemorrhoids | Improves glucose tolerance, decreases carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption | [208,209] |
| Bark | Diabetes, dysentery, cough, diarrhea, skin diseases, wounds, ulcer | Improves pancreatic β-cell function, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake | [149,210,211] |
| Flowers | Diabetes, urinary tract infections, arthritis, sore throat, skin diseases, anemia | Improves β-cell function, increases insulin secretion | [210,212,213] |
| Roots | Diabetes, anemia, obesity, kidney diseases, osteoporosis | Improves pancreatic β-cell function, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake, decreases oxidative stress | [214,215] |
| Bark | Diabetes, jaundice, diarrhea, dysentery, liver tonic, inflammation, hypertension | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake and utilization | [56,216] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, fever, epilepsy, constipation, colitis, cancer, urinary tract infections | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake and utilization | [56,217] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, constipation, hypertension, high cholesterol, athlete’s foot | Inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, exerts antioxidant activity | [56,218,219] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, pneumonia, toothache, stomach ache, fever, tumor, tonsilitis | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, decreases gluconeogenesis, increases glycogenesis | [220,221] |
| Whole plant | Diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, obesity | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose tolerance, inhibits DPP-IV activity | [222,223] |
| Bark, leaves | Diabetes, malaria, hypertension, epilepsy, liver diseases, weight loss | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake and metabolism, inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase | [56,224] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, abdominal pain, wounds, malaria | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion | [56,225] |
| Bark | Diabetes, cardiotonic, anemia, viral infections, venereal diseases, ulcers | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake and utilization | [56,226] |
| Fruit | Diabetes, fever, astringent, constipation, dementia | Improves β-cell function, increases insulin secretion, reduces glycosylated hemoglobin levels | [227,228] |
| Leaves, roots, stem | Diabetes, dysentery, diarrhea, snake bites, asthma, fever, jaundice | Increases insulin secretion, inhibits gluconeogenesis, increases insulin sensitivity | [149,229] |
| Seeds | Diabetes, bronchitis, pneumonia, indigestion, dysentery, high cholesterol | Lowers blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion, improves glucose uptake and utilization | [56,134,230,231] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, anemia, rhinitis, arthritis, gout, wounds | Increases insulin sensitivity, improves glucose tolerance | [232,233] |
| Leaves | Diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, amoebic dysentery, malaria, helminth infections | Lowers elevated blood glucose levels, inhibits gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis | [234,235] |
| Fruit | Diabetes, insomnia, impotence, nervous exhaustion, asthma, liver diseases | Lowers blood glucose levels, improves glucose tolerance | [56,236] |
| Rhizome | Diabetes, nausea, high cholesterol, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, asthma | Lowers fasting blood glucose levels, increases insulin secretion |
