Herbal medicines used to treat diabetes in Southern regions of Pakistan and their pharmacological evidence

Publication date: Available online 10 December 2019Source: Journal of Herbal MedicineAuthor(s): Akash Tariq, Sehrish Sadia, Yang Fan, Shandana Ali, Rahila Amber, Sakina Mussarat, Mushtaq Ahmad, Waheed Murad, Muhammad Zafar, Muhammad AdnanAbstractDiabetes is the third leading cause of death in humans after cancer and cardiovascular disease due to its high global prevalence. The aims of the current study were to document and review pharmacologically ethnomedicinal uses of plants for the treatment of diabetes in selected remote regions of Pakistan. Field data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires and a literature review was carried out using online search engines. Data showed that local healers from Pakistan use 52 plants belonging to 34 families for the treatment of diabetes. Asclpiadaceae and Moraceae were the most preferred families used in the treatment of diabetes. Ethnomedicines were mostly prepared in the form of decoction and powder. Leaves, derived from 18 species, were the dominant parts of the plants used in traditional recipes. The available literature showed that out of 52 documented plants, only 30 plants have been studied worldwide for their pharmacological activities. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of plants have shown beneficial pharmacological properties to alleviate the symptoms of diabetes. Different phytochemical classes were identified from the investigated plants, however only four pure compounds were reportedly isolated and tested against d...
Source: Journal of Herbal Medicine - Category: Complementary Medicine Source Type: research