Mechanisms of Antidiabetic Effects of Medicinal Plants: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide concern as its rising prevalence has resulted in severe health problems. Some people employ traditional medicine to manage their diabetes. AIM: This review aims to identify medicinal plants used in diabetes management and to review their non-clinical data on its efficacy, toxicity studies, and mechanism of action. Methods: The databases used to search for information were PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, reporting from Jan 2018 until Nov 2023. The search terms involved “diabetes”, “hypoglycemic” “medicinal plants”, “chemical compound”, “traditional use”, “extracts”, “reduce blood glucose” and “toxicity”. Results: A total of twenty plants were identified, showing blood glucose reduction from 14.3% to 80%, and their mechanism of action was thematically categorized under three mechanisms which are 1) insulin secretagogue, 2) insulin sensitizer, and 3) retard intestinal absorption of glucose. The plant extracts showed no sign of acute toxicity between 1.5 to 5 g/kg. Conclusion: To optimize their effectiveness, further research is required to evaluate chronic toxicity and identify plant extract bioactive compounds.