Recent update on animal and human evidences of promising antidiabetic medicinal plants: A mini-review of targeting new drugs

Abstract

Improving the world health has resulted in increasing some kind of debilitating diseases. Among these debilitating diseases, the type 2 diabetes is one of the major concerns. In the recent years, new treatment options such as herbal products have emerged to improve glycemic control in these patients. However, the efficacy and safety of these new remedies are still a concern. Recent updates prove benefit of some herbal medicines like Citrullus Colocynthis, Silybum marianum, Plantago ovata, Teucrium polium, Vaccinium myrtillus, Urtica dioica, Medicago sativa, Punica granatum, Panax ginseng, Aloe vera, Allium sativum, Satureja khuzestanica and Trigonella foenum-graecum. Although, animal studies seem complete in demonstrating benefit of these medicines but clinical trials are not complete yet. Standardization of genus and type of the plant, higher sample size trials to specify the dosage and time treatment, or synergistic effects when used in mixtures with other herbs/drugs and profiling adverse effects/toxicities are the issues that should be taken into account in future. The constituents of these medicinal herbs should be targeted for new anti-diabetic drugs. © 2011 Academic Journals Inc.