. Medicinal Plants and Their Anti-Diabetic Properties

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 Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 22;24(10):9085. doi: 10.3390/ijms24109085

The Management of Diabetes Mellitus Using Medicinal Plants and Vitamins

Clement G Yedjou 1,*, Jameka Grigsby 2, Ariane Mbemi 3, Daryllynn Nelson 4, Bryan Mildort 5, Lekan Latinwo 1, Paul B Tchounwou 6,*

Editor: Malgorzata Zakłos-Szyda

3.1. Medicinal Plants and Their Anti-Diabetic Properties

Medicinal plants or plant-based medicine has been used cost-effectively throughout the world to prevent and/or treat diabetes. In fact, many developing countries rely on plant-based medicine to treat people with diabetes and other conditions.

 Several pharmaceuticals commonly used today are structurally derived from natural compounds that are found in traditional medicinal plants.

 For example, the anti-hyperglycemic drug called metformin, currently used to treat diabetes, can be traced back to the traditional use of Galega officinalis to treat diabetes [26,27].

 Most commonly used medicinal plants and vitamins with hypoglycemic activities to improve the immune system and manage blood sugar levels in humans include Allium sativum (garlic), Momordica charantia (Bitter Melon), Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Roselle Plant), Zingiber officinale Rosc (Ginger), and Vitamins C, D, and E (Figure 2, and Table 1).

 Given that many medicinal plants are easily accessible, cheap, and useful for the management of diabetes, many developing countries and a few wealthy countries use medicinal plants to meet their healthcare needs.

3.1.1. Allium sativum and Its Application to Diabetes Mellitus

Allium sativum is the scientific name for garlic, 

which is a plant species in the family of Amaryllidaceae. 

Garlic is known to have various health benefits such as lowering cholesterol, improving blood pressure, 

and boosting the immune system.

 Garlic has also been shown to have potential benefits for individuals with diabetes. Research has suggested that garlic may help lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity, which can be beneficial for diabetes.

The major phytochemicals present in garlic include (1) allicin, which is one of the most 

well-known phytochemicals in garlic and is responsible for its pungent odor; (2)

 sulfur compounds, including diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes, and anti-cancer properties [28,29]; (3) flavonoids, including quercetin and kaempferol, which are known for their antioxidant properties; (4) saponins, which are natural detergents that have cholesterol-lowering properties; and (5) fructans, which are a type of carbohydrates that can act as prebiotic candidates.

The beneficial health effects of garlic include its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, cardioprotective, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antibiotic, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, anticancer, and antiviral activities [28,30,31]. 

It has been demonstrated clinically that garlic supplementation with standard anti-diabetic drugs provides diabetic control in type 2 diabetes [32].

 In addition, clinical trials have demonstrated that garlic and garlic derivatives reduce insulin resistance effectively [33,34]. 

Furthermore, garlic component acts as hydrogen sulfur donors that control type 2 diabetes [29]. Another study has demonstrated garlic reduces lipid profile and glucose parameters such as fasting glucose levels and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) in diabetic patients [35].

3.1.2. Momordica charantia and Its Application to Diabetes Mellitus

Momordica charantia, known as bitter melon is used as a complementary or alternative therapy for the treatment of DM in both developing and wealthy countries.

 It contains compounds that are effective in regulating and lowering blood glucose levels in patients with DM. It regulates and lowers blood glucose in diabetes patients by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing glucose production in the liver [36].

The beneficial health effects of bitter melon include its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, 

antifungal, antibacterial, anticancer, and antiviral activities [37,38,39]. 

The phytochemical analysis of the leaf, fruit, and seed of bitter melon shows the presence of amino acids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, minerals, phenols, phytosterols, saponins, tannins, and vitamins which are responsible for anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hypolipidemic, and anti-hyperglycemic activities [39,40,41].

Studies showed that hypoglycemic herbs increase insulin secretion,

 enhance glucose intake by adipose or muscle tissues, and inhibit glucose absorption from the intestine and glucose production from the liver [42,43]. 

Several in vivo studies using animals indicated that bitter melon has hypoglycemic effects which stimulate glucose uptake into skeletal muscle cells and increase insulin secretion [38,44,45]. 

Similarly, a few clinical reports showed that bitter melon effectively lowers glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes [46,47,48].For example, 

Kim and collaborators performed a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Blood glucose levels, lipid profiles, and adverse events were investigated after 12 weeks of treatment.

 Ninety subjects were included in the final analysis for the glucose-lowering efficacy of bitter melon. 

Results showed that there were no differences in age, sex, or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels between the bitter melon extract and placebo groups.

 After treatment with bitter melon extract for 12 weeks, the HbA1c levels of the bitter melon and placebo groups remained unchanged; 

however, the average fasting glucose level of the bitter melon group decreased (p = 0.014).

 No serious adverse events were reported during the treatment period. Results proved that bitter melon has effects of glucose-lowering in patients with type 2 diabetes [48]. Another study showed that bitter melon permanently normalized blood glucose levels in diabetic rats compared to healthy rats [41]

To be continued 

Consult your doctor  before using the above information