Can Polyherbal Medicine be used for the Treatment of Diabetes? - A Review of Historical Classics, Research Evidence and Current Prevention Programs

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic medical condition, has attained a global pandemic status over the last few decades affecting millions of people. Despite a variety of synthetic drugs available in the market, the use of herbal medicines for managing diabetes is gaining importance because of being comparatively safer. This article reviews the result of a substantial literature search on polyherbal formulations (PHFs) developed and evaluated with potential for DM. The accumulated data in the literature allowed us to enlist 83PHFs consisting of different parts of 147 plant species belonging to 58 botanical families. The documented plant species are laden with bioactive components with anti-diabetic properties and thus draw attention. The most favoured ingredient for PHFs was leaves of Gymnema sylvestre and seeds of Trigonellafoenum-graecum used in 29 and 27 formulations, respectively. Apart from herbs, shilajit (exudates from high mountain rocks) formed an important component of 9 PHFs, whereas calcined Mytilus margaritiferus and goat pancreas were used in Dolabi, the most commonly used tablet form of PHF in Indian markets. The healing properties of PHFs against diabetes have been examined in both pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. However, the mechanism(s) of action of PHFs are still unclear and considered the pitfalls inherent in understanding the benefits of PHFs. From the information available based on experimental systems, it could be concluded that plant-derived medicines will have a considerable role to play in the control of diabetes provided the challenges related to their bioavailability, bioefficacy, optimal dose, lack of characterization, ambiguous mechanism of action, and clinical efficiency are addressed.

Review on the Anti-Hyperglycemic Potential of Psidium guajava and Seriphium plumosum L.

“…Furthermore, research utilizing polyherbal extracts in diabetic rat models has shown positive outcomes, suggesting the potential efficacy of polyherbal tablets for diabetes management [ 3 ]. Examples like Kabasurakudineer demonstrate the synergistic effects of polyherbal formulations in treating metabolic diseases such as diabetes, emphasizing the significance of herbal remedies in addressing prevalent health issues [ 73 ]. The integration of traditional medicine into diabetes care highlights the necessity for further research and incorporation of herbal therapies into mainstream healthcare practices [ 74 ].…”

“…Recent developments in this field include the creation and evaluation of polyherbal tablets derived from medicinal plants, showing promising results in diabetic rat models. The development of stable oral dosage formulations signifies progress in this area of research, offering new avenues for diabetes management [ 73 ]. Collaboration between traditional healers, researchers, and healthcare practitioners is essential for unlocking the full benefits of polyherbalism in diabetes care while safeguarding indigenous knowledge for future generations.…”

Acknowledging the use of botanicals to treat diabetic foot ulcer during the 21st century: A systematic review

“…It is expected to rise exponentially to 300 million people in the next two decades[ 2 ] or 439 million by 2030[ 3 ]. The predicted increase in the number of diabetic cases by Shaw et al [ 3 ] has been reached in just eight years, which was actually expected to occur over a span of 20 years[ 4 ]. Additionally, every year, nearly 400 million people suffer from DM and around 1.6 million people die from it; the vast majority of them are from low-income families[ 5 , 6 ].…”