Antidiabetic activity of Indian medicinal plants

Abstract

Humans have been using plants as a rich source of drugs since ancient times for the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Plants and their products are being used as a traditional medicine for treating diabetes by up to 90% of the population in developing countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Low blood insulin level or insensitivity of target organs to insulin linked to abnormality of carbohydrate metabolism causes diabetes mellitus (DM). There is growing interest in herbal remedies due to the greater which are the major drugs in the management of diabetes. Here, in this chapter we provide an in-depth study on several plant species and their bioactive compounds that have been investigated to exhibit anti-diabetic properties.