Emerging Therapies in Ethnic Population

Abstract

Some of the most important medicinal plants with hypoglycemic properties according to reliable clinical and laboratory evidence, and also touched on the medicinal plants that are prescribed in Pakistani traditional medicine, for the treatment of diabetes. The information in this article was obtained from the eligible articles retrieved using the search terms diabetes mellitus, medicinal plants, type 1 diabetes and medicinal plants, type 2 diabetes and medicinal plants, and the effect of extract and essential oil of medicinal plants affecting diabetized tissues in the human body. Regarding type-II Diabetes mellitus at least initially, and often throughout their lifetime, these patients do not need insulin treatment to survive. Metformin is oral antidiabetic drug having lesser morbid effects as compared to other oral antidiabetic agents. We have compared hypoglycemic potential of herbal hypoglycemic agent Figs or INJEER with Metformin. It was single blind correlational research conducted at Jinnah Hospital Lahore-Pakistan from April to October 2018. Fifty diabetic type-II patients of were selected for research. Approved and explained consent was taken by all patients. They were divided in two groups, 25 patients in each group. Group-I patients were advised to take 250 mg Metformin thrice daily for two months. Group-II patients were advised to take 10 grams of Injeer (Figs) in three divided doses for two months. Their base line fasting blood glucose level was taken and kept in record. They were advised to visit the OPD of the hospital fortnightly. They were also advised to check their fasting plasma glucose level daily at the morning by using Glucometer (provided by Acon Pharmaceutics Ltd). After two months when results were compiled and statistically analyzed, it was observed that Metformin decreased blood sugar level 27.6 % and Figs decreased 13.5 %. It was concluded from the study that Figs can decrease blood glucose level significantly, but when compared to Metformin, this change is about half fraction of the Metformin.