HERBAL DRUGS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a collection of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. DM has been divided into four types: Insulin-dependent DM; Non-insulin-dependent DM; Gestational diabetes and monogenic diabetes. According to International Diabetes Federation, in 2015, about, 415 million people have diabetes; by 2040 this will increase to 642 million. The number of diabetic patients in India by 2040 will be 87 million. Therefore, there is a need to develop safe and effective treatment modalities for diabetes. Medicinal plants play an important role in the management of diabetes mellitus, especially in developing countries where resources are meager. This article presents a review on types of diabetes and its management and list of medicinal plants with antidiabetic effects used in the treatment of diabetes is compiled.