Revista de ciencias farmacéuticas y medicamentos emergentes

Insulinotropic Agents from Medicinal Plants

Umamahesh Balekari and Ciddi Veeresham

Insulinotropic Agents from Medicinal Plants

Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from lack of insulin secretion or insulin sensitivity or both. Enhancement of insulin levels and insulin sensitivity is the primary target in the treatment of diabetes. Current treatment options, such as dietary modifications, oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin have limitations of their own. In view of this, several medicinal plants have been studied for anti-diabetic activity using various in vitro and in vivo methods. Therefore, researchers have been focusing research to find an effective and safe antihyperglycemic drug for clinical use from natural sources. The present review emphasizes on phytochemicals and medicinal plant extracts with insulinotropic activity to reduce hyperglycemia. This review also categorized phytochemicals and plant extracts based on their mode of action like insulin secretagogues, insulin mimetics and both.