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The mechanism of decreasing blood glucose levels by medicinal plants and herbs on different tissues and organs such as the liver, intestine, pancreas, skeletal muscle and adipose tissues.
Source publication
Use of medicinal plants and herbs in the treatment and management of diseases, including diabetes mellitus and its complications remains an integral part of African tradition. In Zimbabwe, nearly one million people are living with diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Zimbabwe is increasing every year due to lifestyle changes, a...
Citations
... Furthermore, the anti-diabetic effects may not be limited to blood glucose levels but also extend to improvements in TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C. Traditional medicines derived from plant extracts have demonstrated effectiveness in preventing and treating DM, attributed to the presence of numerous bioactive phytochemical metabolites with diverse beneficial biological effects and minimal side effects (Usai et al., 2022). ...
Background
Diabetes mellitus is a significant global health issue, and alternative treatments from natural products like Garcinia mangostana L. [Clusiaceae] or GM are being explored for their potential benefits. This study focused on evaluating the hypoglycemic effects of GM on diabetic rodent models.
Methods
A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase for studies reporting blood glucose levels within 2 weeks as the primary outcome and changes in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as secondary outcomes. A network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to determine the pooled effectiveness of each intervention, estimating the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) from both direct and indirect evidence. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SURCA) was used to rank the interventions.
Results
Ten articles were identified, with nine included for quantitative analysis. All GM extracts showed greater effectiveness than the control in decreasing blood glucose levels within 2 weeks. GM at 200 mg/kg (GM200) was the top-ranked extract for reducing glucose levels beyond 2 weeks and increasing HDL-C levels. The ethanol extract of GM at 200 mg/kg (GME200) was the most effective for blood glucose reduction within 2 weeks and for TC and TG reductions. The methanol extract of GM at 200 mg/kg (GMM200) was the top-ranked extract for LDL-C reductions.
Conclusion
GM and its extracts demonstrated significant hypoglycemic activity and improvements in lipid profiles in diabetic rodent models, highlighting their potential as therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus. Further research in human trials is warranted to confirm these findings and establish clinical applications.
Clinical trial registration
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023426254.
... Furthermore, the anti-diabetic effects may not be limited to blood glucose levels but also extend to improvements in TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C. Traditional medicines derived from plant extracts have demonstrated effectiveness in preventing and treating DM, attributed to the presence of numerous bioactive phytochemical metabolites with diverse beneficial biological effects and minimal side effects (Usai et al., 2022). ...
... Loots et al. [29] Lipia Javanica Verbenaceae L Use of diabetic mice. NE Flavonoids and saponins 1 Usai et al. [30] Rhus longipes Anacardiaceae Fr P Alpha glucosidase inhibition assay and mRNA levels of Insulin (INS) and ...
... LC-MS/MS characterisation of Eureiandra fasciculate crude extracts.The study found out that30 plant species are used as ethnomedicines against DMT2 in Cigaro resettlement area of Chegutu district. The most popular plant families are Fabaceae and Anacardiaceae. ...
Background: Despite increasing popularity of ethnomedicinal plants in diabetes type 2 management nowadays, indigenous knowledge of their use is often not documented but rather passed on orally from generation to generation. Thus, the present study was designed to collect, analyze, document and generate useful information on ethnomedicinal plants used in management of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (DMT2). Materials and Methods: Data on ethnomedicinal use was collected using guided interviews, tour guides and information compared with literature search. Model in vitro enzyme inhibition assays were employed to investigate antidiabetic activity of the plants ethanol/water (60/40) extracts. Shinoda, Mayer Salkowski test and LC-MS/MS coupled with library search software's was used to determine phytochemical composition of the most active extracts. Results: The ethnobotanical survey identified 30 medicinal plant species belonging to 18 plant families of which 14 (46.7)% are newly reported here for their claim as anti DMT2 medicine. Among the 30 plant species reported, 10 were very popular with informant consensus factor of ≥60%. The ethanolic/water (60/40) mixture extract of Zanthoxylum chalybeum, Xeroderris stuhlmannii, Syzygium cordatum and Eureiandra fasciculate showed the greatest in vitro antidiabetic activity, >70%. The present results shows that ethnomedicine plays an important part in the management of DMT2 with Zanthoxylum chalybeum, Xeroderris stuhlmannii, Syzygium cordatum and Eureiandra fasciculate being the most appraised ethnomedicinal plants. Standard chemical tests and LC-MS/MS analysis showed that the extracts consist of mostly C-glycosylated flavonoids and to lesser extent O-glycosylated flavonoids, alkaloids and phenolic acids. Conclusion: The generated results will be important in the prioritization of the plant species for polyherbal drug formulation and further investigation.
... 1 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a cardiometabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia consequent to relative insulin deficiency and/or insulin resistance. 2 Globally, 537 million adults were living with DM in 2021 and the prevalence is projected to increase to 643 million by 2030 and to 783 million people by 2045. 3 Approximately 75% of all diabetics are resident in low-and middle-income countries of whom approximately 24 million adults living with DM are in the African region, and of these, about 54% are undiagnosed DM patients. 3 In 2015, about 850000 Zimbabweans were estimated as living with DM. 4 Approximately 5% of global deaths annually are attributed to DM and furthermore, T2DM is a well-known risk factor for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). 5 Diabetes mellitus is associated with various metabolic complications which include CVD, hypertension, stroke, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, lower limb amputations among others. ...
Purpose
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) frequently presents with modified cardiometabolic risk profiles, indicative of an elevated susceptibility to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiometabolic risk factors such as obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia are known contributors to increased CVD hazard in individuals with T2DM. This study evaluated the glycemic control-based cardiometabolic risk profiles of black Zimbabweans with T2DM.
Patients and Methods
A cross-sectional study of 116 T2DM patients recruited from diabetic clinics at Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe Hospitals, Harare, Zimbabwe, was conducted. Blood samples were collected for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profile assessment. The Framingham risk scores (FRS) based on body mass index (BMI) and lipid profile were used to determine CVD risk. Parametric variables were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc Bonferroni correction, while non-parametric variables were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test with post hoc Dunn test for multiple comparisons.
Results
The overall frequency of dyslipidemia was 83.6% (n=97) and hypoalphalipoproteinemia was the most prevalent dyslipidemia (79.3%). Median HDLC levels were significantly lower in participants with poor glycemic control (1.12 mmol/L) compared to those with good glycemic control group (1.37 mmol/L) (p=0.011). Despite lack of significant variations in Framingham Risk Scores, there was a trend towards lower FRS-BMI in the good control group (29.8%) compared to the inadequate control (35.4%) and poor control (32.7%) groups (p=0.078).
Conclusion
Duration since DM diagnosis was observed to be an important risk factor for poor glycemic control being significantly shorter in those with good glycemic control compared to those with inadequate and poor control. Overall, there was no significant difference in HbA1c status by age but individuals with poor glycemic control were significantly older than those with good control. The most prevalent dyslipidemia among the study participants was hypoalphalipoproteinemia which is reportedly associated with genetic predisposition, warranting further investigations.
... Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by a longlasting metabolic disorder that leads to chronic hyperglycemia. It arises due to defects in the secretion of insulin, its metabolic action, or both (Usai et al., 2022). Insulin, a peptide hormone that is secreted by the pancreatic β-cells is crucial for maintaining blood glucose metabolism and controls the development of type 2 diabetes. ...
The germination of dormant seeds triggers various metabolic reactions, resulting in the production of essential phytochemicals with diverse biological activities. This contributes to the inclination to consume sprout juices among individuals seeking to enhance their immune system, manage oxidative stress, and prevent complaints associated with metabolic disorders. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant, toxicity, and antidiabetic activity of young sprout extracts of Hordium vulgare, Triticum aestivum, and Zea mays by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, brine shrimp lethality assay, and α-amylase inhibition methods, respectively. The ethanolic extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and polyphenols. The extracts showed moderate antioxidant activity, with Z. mays having the highest capacity, followed by T. aestivum and H. vulgare. Their half-maximal concentration (IC50) values were 54.24±3.35, 95.94±3.29, and 129.26±5.97 μg/mL, respectively. The same trend of toxicity against brine shrimp nauplii was obtained with half-maximal lethal concentration (LC50) values of 326.41, 473.61, and 6768.75 mg/mL respectively. The antioxidant activity across various extracts displayed a positive correlation with the total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. The extracts demonstrated moderate activity in the α-amylase inhibition assay conducted through the starch-iodine method. The outcomes of this study underscore the presence of significant phytochemicals in the young sprouts of commonly consumed cereals, suggesting their potential use as immune boosters and in treating diseases associated with free radicals.
... Even though more than 50 agents have been authorized to control blood sugar and diabetes complications, clinically used medicines may exhibit a wide range of side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, lactic acidosis, decreased absorption of some vitamins, and a metallic taste in the mouth. [19] Therefore, there is an increasing need for potential alternatives and different approaches in the treatment of diabetes. Active compounds that originated from natural products have become more important for the treatment and prevention of various conditions. ...
Astragalus kurdicus Boiss. roots are used in folk medicine for antidiabetic purposes. Different metabolites of Astragalus plants have a notable potential in antidiabetic activity via differing mechanisms. Herewith this study designed to assess the antidiabetic activity of Astragalus kurdicus, utilizing a range of diabetes‐related in vitro methodologies and to investigate the chemical composition of the plant. According to the results of the activity tests, water extract (AKW) was the most active extract in PTP1B, DPP4, and α‐amylase inhibition tests (87.17%, 82.4%, 91.49% respectively at 1 mg/ml). Total extract, AKM (85.63%), showed the highest AGEs inhibition activity. To test possible improvement effects of the extracts on diabetes through gut‐microbiota, cell growth rates of three probiotic microorganisms were measured. AKM showed highest potential of prebiotic activity among tested extracts and caused higher biomass increase than standard prebiotics. Furthermore, flavonoid‐rich extract was found to be mostly responsible for the high antioxidant activity. The highest saponin and astragalosides content were seen in AKB extract in HPTLC analysis. Among the measured saponins, the abundance of Astragaloside IV (27.41 μg/mg in AKM) was the highest in all fractions. Thus, for the first time, the antidiabetic activity of A. kurdicus was evaluated from various perspectives.
... Further 134 documents were excluded after the analysis of abstracts as they did not meet at least one of the eligibility/inclusion criteria: 53 did not deal with Africa; 69 dealt with other species of moringa, e.g., Moringa stenopetala, Moringa peregrina, or Moringa ovalifolia (articles dealing with Moringa pterygosperma, which is considered erroneously a synonym of M. oleifera, were considered eligible); and 12 were editorial materials. Finally, the analysis of full texts led to the exclusion of 103 documents, including 47 reviews [35,37,38,41,42,[50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61]63,64,67,[70][71][72]. • 69 records because they did not address M. oleifera • 53 records because they did not deal with Africa/African countries • 12 records because they were editorial materials without abstracts Scrutiny of full texts 402 103 records excluded: ...
While Moringa oleifera Lam. is gaining importance in Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa, it is unclear whether research is following the quick pace of its development on the continent. Therefore, this article analyzes the landscape of research dealing with moringa in Africa. This systematic review draws upon 299 eligible articles identified through a search carried out on the Web of Science in April 2023. Research on M. oleifera is rather recent in Africa but interest is increasing among scholars. While the research field is multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral, the literature seems to focus on biological and environmental sciences. Moreover, research is performed mainly in South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Ghana. The analysis suggests a significant potential contribution of moringa to food security and nutrition, climate change mitigation/adaptation, farming systems resilience, and livelihoods. Its versatility and diverse applications and uses make moringa particularly interesting for developing countries, such as African ones. However, this review also underscores some factors hindering its development. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen research on moringa to unlock its potential in Africa. Investments in research, innovation, and development can help address the many challenges that Africa faces and contribute to the transition towards sustainable and resilient food systems.
... Hence, there is a pressing need for new and effective α-amylase inhibitors derived from natural sources. Given the high cost and notable side effects of glucose-lowering drugs (4,10), many individuals turn to traditional medicinal plants to manage diabetes and its debilitating complications (11). Medicinal plants offer a holistic approach to diabetes management (10), and their readily availability (12) makes them a cost-effective alternative to modern medicine. ...
Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder with increasing global prevalence, poses a significant public health concern, necessitating the development of safe and effective drugs. This study specifically assessed the inhibitory effects of Euclea natalensis leaf extracts on alpha-amylase through in vitro, in vivo, and in silico methods. The extracts were sequentially obtained using solvents of graded polarity. alpha-amylase inhibition studies were conducted through spectrophotometric methods, while in vivo assessments were performed using a starch tolerance test on rats. Molecular docking was carried out using Autodock 4.2.6, and SwissADME, along with ADMETlab 2.0, were employed to determine the drug-likeness and toxicity properties of the literature-mined compounds. The extracts demonstrated significant in vitro inhibition of alpha-amylase, with the methanol extract exhibiting the highest percentage of inhibition at 27% ± 4.2, followed by hexane and aqueous extracts at 18% ± 2.5 and 18% ± 3.7, respectively. In vivo, the extracts lowered blood glucose levels, with acarbose reducing peak blood glucose levels by 42%, while both the aqueous and methanol extracts reduced it by 19% each after 30 min. The overall glucose-lowering effect, based on the area under the starch tolerance curve, ranked as follows: acarbose > methanol > aqueous > hexane > dichloromethane extract. Molecular docking identified 20(29)-lupene-3 beta-isoferulate C3 as the most promising compound with the lowest binding energy of -11.4 kcal/mol. Molecular dynamics revealed that C3 loses stability as it diverges from the active site. Additionally, while all other compounds passed the Lipinski drug-likeness criteria, 20(29)-lupene-3 beta-isoferulate C3 did not. Therefore, the present study suggests that E. natalensis exhibits antidiabetic properties through the inhibition of alpha-amylase and may serve as a source of potential antidiabetic drug molecules.
... Some phytochemicals found in nature that works as antidiabetic substances. Copyright from Usai et al. [52] ~ 99 ~ Herbal medications are excellent body balancers that assist the body's balancing process and provide the nutrients the body lacks from an unbalanced diet or environmental inadequacies in the soil and air. In addition to being used to maintain overall health, they can be used to treat a wide range of illnesses, including diabetes, asthma, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic tiredness, and irritable bowel syndrome. ...
Research has demonstrated the health benefits of natural goods, which include species such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, for both humans and animals. The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of people in underdeveloped nations still rely on folk medicines, or traditional medicines, which are primarily made from plants to prevent or treat illnesses. Compared to current pharmaceuticals, traditional medicine based on plant extracts has shown to be more cost-efficient, clinically successful, and less likely to cause side effects. Many drugs and complementary therapies have been used to treat diabetes; among these, a number of herbs have been shown to be effective in both curing and managing the disease. This document aims to compile a list of plants that have anti-diabetic properties and other therapeutic benefits that come from throughout the globe. Because these herbal remedies have hypoglycemic qualities as well as other advantageous qualities that have been documented in scientific literature, history demonstrated that medicinal plants have been utilized in traditional treatment around the world for a very long time to cure diabetes.
... Evaluation of plant products for treatment of DM is becoming profitable owing to the presence of several bioactive 32 constituents with therapeutic potential . Although C. abbreviata has been used in African forklore medicine for the treatment of DM, limited pharmacological findings justify its use as an 33 antidiabetic medicinal plant . Therefore, we investigated the phytochemicals, LD , and the 50 effects of C. abbreviata crude extracts and fractions on oral glucose tolerance in non-diabetic male Wistar rats. ...
Background: Cassia abbreviata plant extracts are used traditionally to treat various ailments including diabetes mellitus. However, very few animal studies have been conducted to investigate potential hypoglycaemic effects locally. We examined phytochemicals, median lethal dose and effects of Cassia abbreviata extracts and fractions on oral glucose tolerance in non-diabetic male Wistar rats. Methods: Qualitative and Lorke’s methods were used to screen for phytochemicals and acute toxicity testing. Rats weighing 160 - 250 g were divided into 4 groups of 3 rats (phase one) and 4 groups of 1 rat (phase two) each for acute toxicity. Main experiments comprised 8 groups (extracts) and 7 groups (fractions) of 6 rats per group. Doses of 762 mgkg-1, 381 mgkg-1, and 190 mgkg-1 for extracts, 381 mg.kg-1 for the fractions, 10 mg.kg-1 for sitagliptin and 10 mL.kg-1 of vehicle were administered. Thereafter, blood glucose levels were assessed using Accu-Chek glucometer. Results: Leaf methanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction contained more phytochemicals. Acute toxicity test revealed no mortality in all the groups except for leaf ethanolic and methanolic crude extracts in phase two at dose 5000 mg.kg-1. Root bark ethanolic extract 381 mg.kg-1 showed significant hypoglycaemic effect at 60 min and 180 min while 381 mg.kg-1 n-hexane fraction showed significant hypoglycaemic effect only at 180 min. Sitagliptin 10 mg.kg-1 minimally reduced the blood glucose levels at 60 min. Conclusion: More phytochemicals were observed in leaf methanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction. Both extracts and fractions were considered practically non-toxic following acute toxicity testing. Root bark ethanolic extract and n-hexane fraction revealed better hypoglycaemic effects. Hypoglycaemic bioactivity observed may be due to various mechanisms.
