A TWELVE-MONTHLY REVIEW ON ANTI-DIABETIC PLANTS: JAN-DEC-2011

Abstract

One of the commonest endocrine disorders is diabetes mellitus, that is characterized by insufficient or lack of insulin and impaired carbohydrate metabolism in the body leading to excretion of sweet urine and long-term complications affecting the eyes, nerves, blood vessels, skin, and kidneys. As per the current estimate, there are about 143 million people in worldwide suffering from diabetes. In the global scenario, diabetic patients may rise to 300 million in 2025. This disease occurs worldwide and its incidence is increasing rapidly in most parts of the world. Moreover, continuous use of the synthetic anti-diabetic drugs causes side effects and toxicity. Therefore, seeking natural and non-toxic anti-diabetic drugs is necessary for diabetic therapy. Medicinal plants play an important role in the development of potent therapeutic agents. The present paper reviews the data reported on pharmacologically active phyto constituents obtained from the different plants involved in anti-diabetic activity along with pharmacological status which have been experimentally studied for hypoglycaemic activity during January-December 2011. This work stimulates the researchers for further research on the potential use of medicinal plants having anti-diabetic potential.