Abstract

ANTIDIABETIC MEDICINAL PLANTS OF INDIA- A REVIEW

Varuna P. Panicker* and Anu Gopalakrishnan

ABSTRACT

In India diabetes is a major health problem affecting people of both rural and urban areas. Herbal formulations are preferred over various treatment methods, which are following today to reduce the ill effects of diabetes and its secondary complications, due to its lesser side effects and low cost. In this review Indian medicinal plants with proven antidiabetic and related beneficial effects used in treatment is compiled. These include, Acacia Arabica, Aegle marmelose, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Aloe vera, Artemisia pallens, Azadirachta indica, Beta vulgaris, Biophytum sensitivum, Bombax ceiba, Brassica juncea, Caesalpinia bonducella, Cajanus cajan, Citrullus colocynthis, Coccinia indica, Eucalyptus globules, Ficus bengalensis, Gymnema sylvestre, Hibiscus rosa-sinesis, Momordica cymbalaria, Musa sapientum, Ocimum sanctum. One of the major contributing factors in diabetes and its related complication is mainly due to the damage induced by free radicals. Hence treatment of diabetes with herbal drugs having both antidiabetic and antioxidant properties are more beneficial.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus (DM), Medicinal plants, Type I DM, Type II DM.