**6. Therapeutic and chemoprophylactic potentials of botanicals**

Terrestrial plants have been used as medicines in Egypt, China, India and Greece from ancient time and an impressive number of modern drugs have been developed from them [104]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a medicinal plant is any plant which, in one or more of its organs contains substances that can be used for therapeutic purposes, or which are precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical semi synthesis. Such a plant will have its parts including leaves, roots, rhizomes, stems, barks, flowers, fruits, grains or seeds, employed in the control or treatment of a disease condition and therefore contains chemical components that are medically active. These non-nutrient plant chemical compounds or bioactive compo‐ nents are often referred to as phytochemicals ('phyto-' from Greek - *phyto* meaning 'plant') or phytoconstituents.

**7.2.** *Gymnema sylvestre*

**7.3.** *Morinda lucida*

cells to release insulin [113, 114].

lism, fatty liver, and cellular repair [115].

**7.5.** *Pterocarpus marsupium*

have been isolated [116,117].

extracts alone in T2DM patients [111,112].

Extracts of *G. syvestre* have been reported to demonstrate antidiabetic activity possibly via reduction in insulin requirement by enhancing endogenous insulin availability, improv‐ ing vitiated blood glucose homeostasis, better control of hyperlipidemia associated with diabetes, reduction in amylase activity in serum and, increase in *β*-cell function as shown by higher levels of serum C peptide. Extract of the leaves of the plant produced a signifi‐ cant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and glycosylated plasma proteins, with a decrease in conventional drug dosages. Some patients were able to discontinue conventional drugs and even maintain their blood glucose homeostasis with

Antidiabetic Botanicals and their Potential Benefits in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/57339

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Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of roots and leaves of *Morinda lucida* Benth (Rubiaceae) have been reported to possess remarkable antidiabetic property in alloxan- and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Suggested mechanisms of action include the stimulation of beta

Using scientifically validated animal models in a study, a multicomponent berberinecontaining remedy comprising *C. chinensis* Franch*, Astragalus membranaceus*, and *Lonicera japonica* was used to treat male Zucker diabetic fatty rats. The three-herb medicine showed sustained glucose-lowering effects for 1 week after a single-dose treatment. Two-week treatment attenuated insulin resistance and fatty degeneration, with hepatocyte regenera‐ tion lasting for 1 month posttreatment. The beneficial effects were found to have persist‐ ed for 1 year after 1-month treatment and were associated with activation of AMPK, Akt, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)1 pathways, with downregulation of miR29-b and expression of a gene network implicated in cell cycle, intermediary, and NADPH metabolism with normalization of CYP7a1 and IGFBP1 expression. Authors concluded that the pluripotent effects of the medicine in altering gene expression, in part through changes in miRNA, explained its sustained beneficial effects on glucose metabo‐

A crude extract (water decoction) of *P. marsupium* was reported to have protective and restorative effect on *β*-cells in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The results were substantiated by histological observations. Various active principles responsible for the antidiabetic activity

**7.4.** *C. chinensis* **Franch,** *Astragalus membranaceus***, and** *Lonicera japonica*

Phytochemicals have been isolated and characterized from fruits such as grapes and apples, vegetables such as broccoli and onion, spices such as turmeric, beverages such as green tea and red wine, as well as many other sources [105]. The WHO estimates that approximately 80% of the world's inhabitants rely on traditional medicine for their primary health care [106].
