Abstract

HERBAL MEDICINES USED IN THE TRADITIONAL INDIAN MEDICINAL SYSTEM AS A THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT OPTION FOR DIABETES MANAGEMENT: A REVIEW

Devendra Kumar*, Neerja Trivedi, Rakesh Kumar Dixit

ABSTRACT

Diabetes is an important human ailment afflicting many from various walks of life in different countries. In recent years, diabetes has become a major health problem worldwide, affecting people across all ages, sex, ethnicities, and races, and its prevalence has been increasing at an alarming rate. Currently, pharmacologic agents available to treat diabetes carry high costs and serious side effects. In contrast, natural products used in the conventional Indian medicinal system have been applied effectively in clinical practice and may be potential targets in the development of future cost effective anti-diabetic drugs with less side effects. In the modern era, various medicines have been developed for hyperglycemic, but nearly all are chemical or biochemical agents. A list of medicinal plants with proven anti-diabetic and related beneficial effects and of herbal drugs used in treatment of diabetes is compiled. There is a need to create awareness regarding the evidence for and use of herbal medicines in the management and treatment of diabetes. The wealth of tribal knowledge on medicinal plants points to a great potential for research and the discovery of new drugs to fight diseases including diabetes, obtaining new foods and other new uses. The purpose of this review was to examine medicinal plants that may be promising alternative treatments in the management and treatment of diabetes, especially in India.

Keywords: Diabyetes, Herbal Medicine, Medicinal Plant.