Phytotherapy in diabetes: Review on potential mechanistic perspectives
Authors
Hanan El-Abhar
Hanan S El-Abhar, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini Str., 11562 Cairo, Egypt
Mona Schaalan
Hanan S El-Abhar, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini Str., 11562 Cairo, Egypt
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a widely spread epidemic disease that results from the absence of insulin, decreased secretion and/or impaired function. Since DM is a multi-factorial disease, the available pharmaceuticals, despite their sensible treatment, target mostly one pathway to control hyperglycemia and encounter several side effects. Therefore, new therapeutic paradigms aim to hit several pathways using only one agent. Traditionally, antidiabetic plants and/or their active constituents may fulfill this need. More than 200 species of plants possess antidiabetic properties which were evaluated mostly by screening tests without digging far for the exact mode of action. Searching among the different literature resources and various database and in view of the above aspects, the present article provides a comprehensive review on the available antidiabetic plants that have been approved by pharmacological and clinical evaluations, and which their mechanism(s) of action is assured. These plants are categorized according to their proved mode of action and are classified into those that act by inhibiting glucose absorption from intestine, increasing insulin secretion from the pancreas, inhibiting glucose production from hepatocytes, or enhancing glucose uptake by adipose and muscle tissues. The current review also highlights those that mimic in their action the new peptide analogs, such as exenatide, liraglutide and dipeptidylpeptidase-4 inhibitors that increase glucagon-like peptide-1 serum concentration and slow down the gastric emptying.
Keywords: Hypoglycaemic nutraceuticals, Antidiabetic phyto-constituents, Medicinal plants, Phytotherapy, Diabetes mellitus
Author Biographies
Hanan El-Abhar, Hanan S El-Abhar, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini Str., 11562 Cairo, Egypt
Mona F Schaalan, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University, KM 28 Cairo, Egypt
Mona Schaalan, Hanan S El-Abhar, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini Str., 11562 Cairo, Egypt
Mona F Schaalan, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University, KM 28 Cairo, Egypt
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