Herbals and its marketed formulations to treat Diabetes Mellitus DM: An Overview

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is one of the common metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to defect in insulin secretion, insulin action or both and 2.8% of the population suffers from this disease throughout the world and it may cross 5.4% by the year 2025. This dreadful disease is found in all parts of the world and is becoming a serious threat to mankind health. It also a very prevalent disease affecting the citizens of both developed and developing countries. There are lots of synthetic chemical agents available in market to control and treat diabetic patients like sulfonylurea, biguanides, etc. but total recovery from diabetes has not been reported up to this date. Alternative to these synthetic agents, many herbal plants with hypoglycaemic properties are known from across the world. Medicinal herbs as potential source of therapeutic aids have attained a significant role in health system all over the world for both humans and animals. India has about 45000 plant species and among them, several thousands have been claimed to possess medicinal properties. Herbal medicines have shown good clinical practice in the therapy of diabetic mellitus. In This present paper aims to review various plant species and their constituents, which have been used in the traditional system of medicine and have shown hypoglycaemic activity and various branded herbal formulations like D-400 tablet, Diasulin powder, Madurisht churna, Diabecon, Dia-care, etc. available in the market as antidiabetic remedies are also discussed.