Advantageous Anti Diabetic Herbs
Ex. Scientist, IIIM (CSIR) Jammu Consultant Herbal Resource Culture & Breeding 572/Sect 21-B, Faridabad, Haryana-121001
Ph.: 0129-4041378, 9868442417(Reprinted from 3rd National Seminar & Exhibition on Spices and Herbs Seminar, 11th April 2010 organized by NNS)
Diabetes is a major health problem world wide and our country is the world capital of diabetes, with approximately 35 million diabetics. The number is likely to multiply in near future. The rising number of diabetes appears mainly related to the increasing number of overweight individuals, that refers to excess body fat sufficient to harm health. In short, diabetes and obesity are closely related. The more overweight an individual is the greater the risk of developing diabetes. This rising prevalence has also been observed in children and adolescents in our country.
The Disease
The food we eat, most of it is converted into glucose (sugar) for use as energy.
Endocrine gland-pancreas produces a harm one called insulin to help glucose to get into body cells. When a patient is suffering from diabetes, body either does not make insulin or cannot use its own insulin very well, this results into increase in body glucose level, leading into hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) followed by diabetic complications and biochemical changes in the body which affect every organ and system. Deposition of cholesterol and other substances on blood vessels, results in heart disease, strokes, kidney disease and damage to small blood vessels that is mainly seen in the eyes etc. This disorder is partly inherited and partly environmental.
Diabetes is one of the most costly troublesome chronic disease that cannot be cured but is important to manage either by physical activity, life style modification, maintaining ideal body weight, avoiding fast foods, smoking, stress, practicing yoga and meditation, monitoring fasting blood and post meal glucose, cholestrol, blood pressure, eye fundus changes and weight. To summarize, those who are at the risk, some control measures including glucose lowering by allopathic drugs, alternate drugs or temperature therapy must be used. While the decision of use of synthetic drugs at the present moment seems inevitable, it must be hoped that much more vigorous efforts are required to find alternatives to synthetic drugs, whose long term effects are less damaging. The ill effects of synethetic drugs have aroused great interest in alternate method of treatments throughout the world and research in industrial & academic laboratories is aimed to discover the most effective compound, formulations, mixtures for diabetic control.
Bio-active products of plant origin are gaining rising popularity, during these days, may be due to shortcomings of western medicine in resolving chronic illness. The success of modern medicine in curing diseases, has led to the improved demand for universal panacea. This has enhanced the criticism of modern medicine in the society, because expectations are step ahead of what can be provided. In this hope and expectation of cure, patient seek the help of alternative medicine like herbals and other therapies as they provide a large hope for rejuvenation of the patients. Throughout history medicinal plants have figured in the life of man and were always of paramount importance, in the treatment of diseases for common people. They cannot now be seen as useless or native. On the contrary it is necessary to keep alive all the knowledge available about plants in vedas, and in old manuscripts. The study of medicinal plants gave rise to belief that nature is a vast pharmacy and there is no plant on this earth that could not be used for treatment of some or other disease. Herbals are considerable in number and economically important. They contain active constituents which are used in the treatment of many different diseases. Besides being used as direct remedies, they are also used in pharmaceutical industry. However, pharmaceutical industry mainly uses only those that are known medicinally effective.
Herbal medicine if administered correctly, generally have a mild action and effect usually occurs after a lengthier period. They serve to protect against serious diseases, contribute to patient progress in the convalescence, have a calming effect and are also of great pediatrics, because of their relative safety, if used responsibly. For number of herbs the chemistry and pharmacology are poorly documented and there use by the laymen should be avoided or used only under proper advise and guidance. Nevertheless, there are still many plants that have mild but definite therapeutic effects and can prove useful as home remedies. However, one should not hesitate to seek professional medical advice.
The most prevalent alternative medicine is herbal medicine and herbs have been used in all cultures, since antiquity and their contribution is an established fact. The modern herbal medicines embrace the holistic approach to health with the use of herbs. The traditional herbal therapies of ayurveda sidha, unani and other systems of our continent make use of numerous herbs. But they have their own limitations as medical establishment have overlooked their benefits and are now realizing the need to consider and evaluate the benefits of herbals. Further, modern medicine is about a quick fix rather than a cure. Its emphasis is on the elimination of symptoms without determining the root cause of the disease where as herbal medicine stresses the point that there is no cure unless we determine and understand the cause of the disease and in estimable value of medicinal plants.
The earliest mention of diabetic plants is found in the Rig veda and atharva veda the classic books of Hinduism composed in India during second millennium B.C.Further, from the published reviews and survey responses a good number of plant species reportedly possessing anti diabetic properties have been listed. However, we have identified and discussed 40 plants only one by one that come close to the characteristics used for control/management of blood sugar level directly or indirectly as a combination of diabetic drugs.
Unlike listed botanicals table which represent a small group from the listed plants, we have a vast wealth of plants which could be a source of bio-active compounds still unexplored. Concerted efforts are required to make available botanicals more portent, ecologically sound and precluded by the cost.
1. Acacia Arabica Willd. (Babul)
Family : Mimosaceae
Babul is a spiny medium sized tree with dark brown bark; flowering during rains. The plant yields a gum, by making incisions in the stem. The juicy liquid that comes out from the stem, is allowed to solidify. After solidifying the gum is harvested and used in various medicinal preparations including diarrhoea, dysentery and in diabetes mellitus. The leaves and fruits of the plant is astringent and is also used in tanning. Acacia catechu willd, wood is similar in properties and uses to acacia arabica willd.
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2. Aegle marmelos corr. (Bel)
Family : Rutaceae
This armed tree of Indian origin is a tall deciduous tree, about 12 m high.
Aegle marmelos corr. is an important medicinal tree used in fever, constipation, dysentery, diarrhoea, stomach pain, etc. It is commonly known as Bael or Shriphala and contains number of coumarins, alkaloids, sterols, and terpenoids reported from stem, bark, and leaves of the plant. Every part of the plant is used in the Indian system of medicine. In Bangladesh, the leaves are used for fertility control and the active principle is steroidal hormone (Govindachari et.al. 1983). The bark of the tree which is called Maja in Floves island, Indonesia, has be prescribed as a remedy for diabetes (Kitagawa 1994). The fixed oil from the seed is used as purgative and has also shown anthelmintic and antimicrobial, properties CM acleod and Pieris 1981. The ripe fruit is sweet and aromatic and is used in the form of sherbet (soft drink ) and marmalade. The tree is tolerant to pollution and may be planted to minimize pollution.
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3. Asparagus adsedens Roxb (Sheveat Shatavar)
Family : Asparagaceae
It is a suberect prickly rigid under shrub with white herberous roots about 2.5 m high. Spines straight or slightly curved with straight and filiform cladodes. Flowers numerous, racemes, stamen shorter than the perianth. Berry, red. Plant flowers from August to November. Roots are used medicinally for vitality and strength. Stem aphrodisiac and useful in diarrhoea, dysentery and general debility. It is also used in galactagogue. Roots are pickled and eaten with young shoots as vegetable. Timbers are used in various diabetic herbal drug preparations.
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4. Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Samarry Shatavar)
Family : Asparagaceae
Plant grows wild in hilly tracts of forest areas and scrub Jungles throughout tropical and subtropical India and other countries including Africa, Java and Australia.
The tuberous roots harvested are used as vegetables and after cleaning can be fed to buffaloes. They are also used in medicine as refrigerant, demulcent, diuretic aphrodisiac, antiseptic, alternative galactagogue. It is also used in preventing confluence of small pox and in cases of impotence. It has also been used in various urinary disorders, seminal debility and in diabetic preparations.
The plant has also been used in fever as nematicidal, anti cancer, pain in limbs and bones, in diabetes, jaundice, hyperacidity, nutritive tonics against senile pruritus and fatigue etc.
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5. Azadirachta indica A.Juss (Neem)
Family : Meliaceae
It is a large tree and every part of the tree possesses some medicinal properties. The bark is a bitter tonic, astringent and antiperiodic. The root bark and young fruits are used as tonic antiperiodic and alternative. Leaves are used as poultice and applied to boils. Decoction of leaves is antiseptic and used to wash ulcers and eczema. The oil extracted from the fruit is used medicinally in skin diseases, for burning in rheumatism and is used as antiseptic. Dry flowers are used as tonic. The plant is an important constituent of diabetic herbal drugs.
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6. Bougainvellaea spectabilis Willd (Garden Glory)
Family : Nyctaginaceae
Bougainvellaea is a beautiful hardy and spiny climbing shrub used as a porch vine. The shrub is scandent straggling and cultivated throughout India as an ornamental shrub for its beautiful and brilliantly coloured bracts. The plants are planted on road sides as dust filters or biomonitors of air pollution. Alcoholic extract of dried leaves showed significant hypoglycaemic effect in mice. The leaf parts is given in diabetes. The active principal has been identified as pinitol or D-Chiro (+)-o- methyl inositol. The antidiabetic principal, decreased blood sugar level in rats after oral administration.
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7. Casearia esculenta Roxb (Mori)
Family : Samydaceae
Casearia esculenta Roxb. is a shrub or a small tree. The leaves of the plant are eaten in stews and used in medicated baths. The root is astringent, purgative and promotes action of liver. The roots contain a brownish yellow resin, tannic acid colouring matter and starch. The bark contains toxin and a principal allied to cathartic acid. The decoction of root enhances glucose consumption by tissues and potentiation of insulin effect and has been commonly used in diabetes and in piles.
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8. Ceiba pentandra (Linn) Gaertn (Kapok)
Family : Bombacaceae
Kapok is becoming popular among farmers as an important agro forestry tree species and is widely distributed in hotter parts of western and southern India. The seed resemble cotton seed. Kapok is a medium sized deciduous tree about 50 to 100 feet high. The branches are prickly when young and bear compound leaves, used as emollient. Root is diuretic and the juice extracted from the roots is a cure for diabetes. Plant is used in folk medicine against diarrhoea and dysentery. The gum is used as tonic and in bowel complaints.
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9. Cinnamomum Tarmala (F. Hamilt) Nees and Eberrn(Tejpata)
Family : Lauraceae
It is known as Indian Cassia or Tejpata and is an evergreen aromatic tree occurring in tropical and subtropical Himalayas including north east India. The tree is a source of tejpata spice of commerce and has been used since antiquity as a flavoring agent. It is reported to be hypoglycemic, stimulant, carminative and is commonly used in Indian system of medicine in colic, cough, colds, diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, rheumatism, irritations, boils, conjunctivitis and etching. Plant is hypoglycemic in patients of insulin independent diabetes. Used in the preparation of ayurvedic drugs vyaghri haritaki, sudarshan choorna, chanderprabhavati, yograj guggul, dasmoolarishta etc.
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10. Coccinia cardifolia Cogn. (Kanduri)
Family : Cucurbitaceae
Coccinia is a climbing or prostrate herb with long tuberous roots used in Indian system of medicine for the treatment of skin diseases, bronchial catarh.
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11. Couroupita guainensis Aube (Nagalingum)
Family : Lecythidaceae
It is frequently found in botanical gardens in India and bears large curiously formed flowers in clusters. The fruit is indehiscent, brown, globular, nearly of the size of man’s head, having a woody covering, enclosing many seeds. The fruit takes 8-9 months to ripen. The shells of the fruit are used as sutencils and pulp is said to be eaten and made into beverage.
The plant has numerous medicinal uses. It used as an antibiotic, anti fungal, analgesic, in cold and in stomach disorders. Leaf juice is used as disinfectant in wounds. Young leaves are also used in combination with other herbs for the treatment of diabetes and malaria diseases bronchitis, etc. The young green fruits are used in curries while the ripe ones are eaten raw. The juice of root, stem and leaves is used in diabetes. Plant juice cures ear pain and are used in colli, sores, syphilis and gravel. Plant shows the presence of hypoglycemic principles in ethanolic and aq-extracts. Orally active and comparable with tolbutamide.
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12. Crataegus oxycantha Linn(Ban Sangli)
Family : Rosaceae
Crataegus oxcantha is an ornamental tree 20-30 feet high found at an attitude of 6000 to 9000 feet. Fruits are edible. There are several forms differing in foliage, flower and fruit character. The liquid extract from the fruits is a cardiac tonic and a remedy for organic and functional heart diseases. It reduces blood pressure. The drug extracted from the plants relax the uterus and intestines. The fresh fruit contains citric acid, crataegus acid, sugars, principally glucose and fructose. The bark contains invert sugar, polysaccharides, esculin etc. A cyanogenetic glucoside is present in young shoots. The wood is used for handles and walking sticks. The plants is also used as an ingredient in the manufacture of various diabetic preparations by natural therapists.
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13. Curcuma longa Linn. (Haldi)
Family : Zingiberaceae
It is a perennial plant of 2-3 feet height with short stem and tufted leaves. The rhizome of the plant is used as coloring matter with a fine characteristic aroma. The plant possesses several medicinal properties and is used since times immeroial for treatment of several body ailments including skin diseases, wounds, chronic cold, ulcers, inflammation, conjunctivitis, stomatitis and several other diseases. Curcuma powder is also used as an important ingredient in various drug preparations including diabetic drugs.
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14. Exacum bicolor Roxb. (Bara Charayata )
Family : Gentianaceae
Exacum is a beautiful medicinal herb, grows best in rainy season. The initial growth of seedling is very slow and plants take about 3 months to initiate flowering and fruiting. The plant is bitter in taste and local people use it as herbal remedy for diabetes and skin disorders. Plant is used as a tonic and substitute for gentian and chiretta.
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15. Ficus bengalensis Linn. (Bargad)
Family : Moraceae
Bargad is a large evergreen shade giving tree upto 100 feet in height, with spreading branches producing large number of aerial roots, which go down into the soil and act as additional support for the plant. The fibre extracted from the bark and aerial roots is utilized for making coarse ropes. The bark is also for paper making. The leaves give very fine fodder and are made into “Donas”. The milky juice is applied externally for pains in rheumatism and in Lumbago. The infusion of bark is used in diabetes, dysentery and diarrhoea. The leaves of the tree are applied as poultice to abscesses.
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16. Ficus glomerata Roxb. (Gular)
Family : Moraceae
Ficus glomerata Roxb. is a large tree upto 60 feet in height. The trees are planted for the sake of fruits which are largely eaten both raw, in the form of vegetable as well as ripe in the form of fruits. The leaves form very good fodder for cattle and elephants. The wood of the tree is supposed to be very sacred and is used in sacred fires (Hawans). The bark is astringent and is given to cattle when suffering from rinderpest. The root is used in dysentery. The sap of root is given in diabetes. The fruit is carminative. The milky juice is given in piles and diarrhoea.
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17. Ficus rumphii Blume (Pakar)
Family : Moraceae
It is a medium sized tree, usually epiphytic in life.The fruits are edible and leaves and branches are used as fodder for cattle and elephants. The juice is used to kill worms and is given internally with turmeric, pepper and ghee for asthma. Root sap is given in diabetes for cure.
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18. Gossypium herbaceum Linn. (Kapas)
Family : Malvaceae
It is a small shrub with thick and rigid stem. Annual, clothed with wooly hairs. Cotton is consumed mostly in the manufacture of woven articles either alone or in combination. Cotton constitutes one of the basic raw materials for cellulose industries including plastics, rayon and explosives. Sterilized cotton finds use in medical and surgical practices. Cotton seed is rich in vitamins and is used as nervine tonic in headaches and brain affections. Cotton seed oil is used for edible purposes and in soap industry. Root is pounded in water and applied externally to hasten suppuration and as dressing for wounds. Gossypol a major pigment, dimerice napthalene derivative from seed root and stem is a safe antifertility drug for males. The plant has been used in combination with other herbs for diabetic cure.
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19. Grewia asiatica Mast. (Phalsa)
Family : Tiliaceae
Grewia is a small tree or a large straggling shrub, found throughout the greater part of India. The plant is cultivated for its fruits, which is eaten as dessert fruit. Fruit is commonly used in the preparation of summer drinks and is also pickled. It is used as astringent and for cooling. Infusion of bark is used as demulcent and root bark is used in rheumatism. The fruit is used as a constituent in the preparation of diabetic drugs. The fruit contains acid as citric acid, sugar as Sucrose, Vitamin C and Pectin.
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20. Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. (Gudmar)
Family : Asclepiadaceae
The plant is a large climbing shrub with yellow flowers arranged in umbellate cymes. The powdered roots of this plant are largely used as a cure for snake bite. Roots are also used as emetic and as expectorant. feaves are chewed in diabetes to reduce glycosuria. The plant contains gymnemic acid and if chewed posses special property of destroying temporarily the power of tasting sugar. Further leaf extract by ethyl acetate or by chloroform also posses the property of destroying the sense of taste for sweet substances. Leaf material has also been observed to stimulate insulin secretion and some active principles isolated recently have shown blood sugar reducing property. The plant is used at present in many ayurvedic and unani preparations for diabetic cure.
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21. Kyllinga tricep Rottb. (Nirbisi)
Family : Cyperaceae
The plants are perennial herbs, erect with horizontally much branched rhizome. The stem is leafy below and composed of numerous crowded spikelets. Root decoction is used in fevers and diabetes to relieve thirst. Root oil is used to promote action of liver and relieve pruritus.
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22. Linaria cymbalaria Mill (Linaria)
Family : Serophulariaceae
Linaria is either annual or a perennial herb, with erect branches and thin narrow leaves. Seeds are fine. The flowers may be solitary axillary or arranged in racemes or spikes and are of different colours. The plant is used medicinally in diabetes and in several other diseases.
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23. Mangifera indica Linn. (Aam)
Family : Ancardiaceae
The plants are large trees cultivated for the sake of fruits which are eaten for their taste and high nutritional value, especially the presence of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, protein, carbohydrate, iron and phosphorus. The level of energy release is also very high. The mango leaves are used in scorpion sting, as tooth brushes. They clean the mouth and improve taste when chewed. Fruit is laxative and useful in hemorrhage from uterus, lungs, or intestines while unripe fruit is useful in ophthalmia and eruptions. The kennel of mango seed is more astringent and tonic in debility of stomach. Mango flowers in ayurved are described cold in potency and reduce kapha and pitha. It is recommended for treating diarrhoea and diabetes. Mango leaf has also been used in certain diabetic preparations. Further, eating chewable mango has been reported to reduce fat and help to fight insomnia.
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24. Momordica Charantia Linn. (Karela)
Family : Cucurbitaceae
A monoecious annual climbing herb with 5-7 lobed, suborbicular leaves and yellow flowers. Fruits are ribbed fusiform and tubercled. Fruit contains many compressed brown seed. The fruits are used as tonics stomachis, carminative and hypoglycaemic. All the three main parts of the herb i.e. fruit, leaves and roots are used in ayurvedic medicines for various diseases including diabetes mellitus, healing of wounds, psorous, infractible and malignant ulcers etc.
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25. Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng. (Kakrol)
Family : Cucurbitaceae
Kakrol is a perennial monoecious climber with tuberous roots. The tender fruits of the plant are esteemed as vegetable and young leafy shrubs are also cooked and eaten. The plants are used as an alternative, bitter drug in place of strychnos. Roots contain triterpenoid saponin. Seed used as aperient and in the treatment of ulcers and obstruction of liver and spleen, cough, chest pain and stimulates uterine discharges. The plant has been used in combination with other herbs for diabetes. The fruit is a rich source of ascorbic acid.
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26. Oxalis corniculata Linn. (Amrul Sak)
Family : Oxalidaceae
Amrul Sak is a small annual or perennial procumbent or more or less erect herb. It is avery common weed in cultivated and fallow lands. The plant is found nearly in all regions throughout the warmer parts of India, in the Himalays upto 800 feet. The plant is oftenly used as a constituent in herbal diabetic drugs. The leaves of plant are pleasantly eaten as salad and cooked as pot herb. The leaves are good source of Vitamin C. Fresh juice of the plant cures dyspepsia, piles, anaemia. The plant possesses astringent emmenagogue and antiseptic properties. The leaves of the plant are considered cooling, stomachic, antiscorbutic and appetizing and used in fevers. They are also used for removing corns, warts and other excrescences of skin.
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27. Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (Amla)
Family : Euphorbiaceae
Amla or Aonla, is a small or middle sized deciduous tree, with small pinnate leaves.
Male and female flowers born on same tree. Fruit is fleshy, roundish, pale green or yellowish. Amla occurs throughout tropical and subtropical India. Fruit is a rich source of iron, vitamin c and folic acid. Fruit is useful in diarrhoea, dysentery, anaemia, jaundice, cough, dyspepsia and measles. While flowers have cooling and refrigerant properties, root and bark is astringent. Seed is used in combination with other herbs for asthma, bronchitis and biliousness. Amla is also used in combination with other herbs for diabetic cure.
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28. Picrorhiza Kurroa Royle Ex Benth. (Kutki)
Family : Serophulariaceae
It is a small herb with spathula shaped long leaves. Rhizomes of the plants are long and woody. Flowers are in cylindric spikes. The plant occurs in higher mountains. The drug comprises the dried rhizomes of the plant. The root in bitter, cathartic, and used in fever, dyspepsia, as diuretic, in purgatives and in various herbal diabetic preparations. Roots contain a glucoside a bitter principal kutkin and a non bitter product kurrin, vanillic acid and glucoside picrorhiza etc.
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29. Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. (Bijasar)
Family : Leguminosae
Bijasar is a large handsome tree with compound leaves. Flowers in large dense bunches, yellow in color. The tree is very common in central and peninsular India. The tree in flowering makes a beautiful sight. Leaves, flowers, wood and gum are extensively used in medicine, especially in the treatment of diarrhoea, toothache, fevers, urinary discharge, application on boils, sores and skin diseases. The water in which a block of wood of this tree has been soaked overnight is believed to be useful for diabetic patients and is at present used in many diabetic preparations. Pterocarpus gumkine contains kino-tannic acid, a good astringent.
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30. Salacia chiensis Linn. (Saptrangi)
Family : Celastraceae
Saptrangi is a small erect tree or a large woody climbing shrub found almost throughout India. Leaves ovate to lanceolate. Fruits yellowish red when ripe. Seed surrounded by an edible pulp. Roots have been used as anti diabetic in indigenous system of medicine. Clinical tests have substantiated the efficacy of roots. They are also used as astringent. Decoction of roots is also useful in dysmenorrhea and general diseases etc.
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31. Salacia oblonga Wall. (Ponkoranti)
Family : Celastraceae
A small tree or climbing shrub found in rain forests of western ghats from Konkan to Kerala. Leaves ovate or ovate lanceolate. Flowers greenish yellow, seed imbedded in pulp. Root bark boiled in oil or as decoction or as powder is used for the treatment of gonorrhea, rheumatism, itches, asthma, thirst, ear disease and in diabetic drug preparations.
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32. Silybum Marianum Linn. (Milk thistle)
Family : Compositae
It is a glossy leaved erect thistle like annual herb with lobed leaves which are white spotted above stem grooved with flowers arranged in large terminal solitary subglobose heads. The seed contains silymarin, are pungent, demulcent and antispasmodic. Silymarin is the only drug having genuine antihepatotoxic properties, i.e. a protective effect on liver and is used in the treatment of jaundice and calculi of liver and gall bladder. Root is eaten boiled, young leaves served as salad and flowering heads are consumed by diabetes. The plant is an important constituent of diabetic herbal drugs.
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33. Stevia rebaudiana Bert. (Stevia)
Family : Compositae
Stevia is a small shrubby perennial with long stems, twisted with small green rounded leaves. The flowers are small, white and arranged in an irregular cyme. Stevia is a short dry plant. Stevia can be propagated from seed or cuttings. Stevia produces sweet steviol glycosides the constituent responsible for stevia’s sweetenings. In addition, stevia leaves contain several chemicals called glycosides which taste sweet but do not provide calories. Besides sterols triterpenes, volatile oil, aldehyde, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes are also present in stevia. Stevia consists of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and other nutrients and yet has no calorific value. Stevia is used as a natural non sugar food supplement, flavour enhancement, herbal teas, and in medicine to be helpful for hyperglycemia and diabetes as it nourishes the pancreas.
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34. Syzygium cumini Linn. (Jamun)
Family : Myrtaceae
It is a large evergreen tree with small dull white flowers. Fruits are long, ovoid, purpulish when young, black when ripe, juicy. The fruits and seed of the tree are medicinal. The bark is astringent and is used in sore throat bronchitis, asthma, ulcers, dysentery diarrhoea etc. The seed and fruit juice are very useful in diabetes. Aqueous extracts of seed cause marked decrease in blood sugar when injected into dogs and rabbits, and lowers in diabetic patient when taken orally.
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35. Tinospora cordifolia Willd. (Gilo)
Family : Menispermaceae
Tinospora is a large twinning shrub with succulent stems throwing aerial roots and tubercled corky bark. The leaves are simple with yellow flowers born on racemes in the axils of leaves. The stems of the plant collected in hot season and dried with bark intact constitute the drug. The plant contains three alkaloids in appreciable quantities. The extract is useful in rheumatic fevers, jaundice etc. The starch obtained from the roots and stems of the plant is useful in diarrhoea, dysentery etc. The plant is commonly used in combination with other herbs in the preparation of herbal diabetic drugs.
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36. Trigonella foenum graecum Linn. (Methi)
Family : Leguminosae
Methi leaves are largely eaten as sag and are used both internally and externally for their cooling properties. The seeds are used as spice and in medicines. Vaidyas and rural people of our country use methi against diabetes. The seed contain galactomannans, mucilage, a colouring material, volatile and fixed oils, alkaloids like trigonelline, choline and nicotinic acid. It is a rich source of steroidal sapogenins particularly diosgenin. The plant is used as tonic carminative, aphrodisiac, in dysentery and as an infusion given to small pox patients.
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37. Virca rosea Linn. (Sadabahar)
Family : Apocynaceae
This is very important ornamental perennial plant, flowering throughout the year. The flowers are pinkish and white. The root which form the drug contain more than 80 alkaloids of which the induline dimers are pharmacologically very important. Vinca alkaloids received great attention due to their anticancer potential, certain alkaloids extracted from leaves have shown antibacterial activity. The plant is used as a remedy for diabetes and is commonly used in herbal drugs as an antidiabetic constituent.
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38. Withiania somnifera Dunal (Ashwagandha)
Family : Solanaceae
Ashwagandha is considered one of the most important medicinal plant, considered to increase all the seven body nutrients. The plant is considered to be one of the best virilifies, vitaliser, rejuvenator and is also known as Indian ginseng. The plant is used in medicine as anti inflammatory, adaptogenic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, immunostimulatory, health maintenance, restoration and for herve tonic. The plant has been used for cough, rheumatism, female disorders, dropsy and as sedative. Ashwagandha powder intake wards off stress, promotes health and prevents premature ageing. Ashwagandha powder is an important constituent of herbal diabetic drugs and has been used with other herbs, to help thin and enunciated people to gain weight, become healthy and robust.
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39. Woodfordia Fruticosa Kurz. (Dhai)
Family : Lythraceae
Woodfordia is a large shrub with many arching branches and reddish brown bark, shredding off in fibers. The dried flowers and leaves are employed in tanning and dyeing. The dried flowers are also used in dysentery, derangements of liver, disorder of mucous membrane, hemorrhoids and has been used by certain practioners in the treatment of diabetes. Dhai is considered a safe stimulant in pregnancy.
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40. Zizyphus xylopyrus Willd. (Mullik)
Family : Rhamnaceae
It is large straggling shrub or a small tree armed with spines. Leaves broadly elliptic, obovate, fruit globose, hard and woody. The tree is a light demander and grows best in open situations. The tree is one of the chief host for propagation of lac. The leaves are used as fodder. Tannins present in fruits are used for tanning hides and skins. The plant is used by many alternate therapists for the treatment of diabetic patients either alone or in combination with other herbs.
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Conclusion
Diabetes which was once considered a disease of developed world has become pandemic with nearly two thirds of diabetics living in the developing world. The estimates have earned India the dubious distinction of being the diabetic capital of the world with highest number of diabetics. If we go by the estimates of international diabetes federation about 11 per cent of India’s urban population and three per cent of rural population above the age of 15 has diabetes. The huge increase in the disease can be attributed to unhealthy eating habits including consumption of diets rich in fat, sugars etc. Sedentary life style lack of physical activity, obesity, stress which leads to type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes often referred as juvenile diabetes, when pancreas which produces insulin are destroyed. Patients with type 1 diabetes require daily insulin injections and controlled diet. Normally the type 2 diabetes generally happens later in life. It will not be out of place to mention here that diabetic patients are two to four times as likely to get heart disease as people without it. Further, diabetes speeds up the process of atherosclerosis and can affect memory and other brain functions including blindness.
Given such situations patients with type 2 diabetes can control the glucose in their blood by change in life-style, which requires eating measured diet, regular exercise and oral medication including herbals extensively used in ayurveda, unani and other systems which are gaining rising popularity during these days due to short coming of western medicine in resolving some chronic illness. Most of the patients seek relief from chronic afflictions which modern medicine has not been able to handle effectively in spite of all the high tech gadgets at its disposal.
The most prevalent alternative medicine is herbal medicine and herbs have been used in all cultures since antiquity and their contribution is an established fact. The modern herbal medicine embraces the holistic approach to health with the use of herbs. Physical environmental and spiritual factors are considered for evaluation of remedy. Almost all the alternative systems use herbs to treat disease. The traditional herbal therapies of ayurveda, sidha, unani and other systems of our coutinent make use of numerous herbs. But, they have their own limitation as medical establishment have over looked their benefits in the part and are now realising the need to consider and evaluated the benefits of herbals. It is not a fad instead it is a reality. The only challenge is to underscore the urgency for thorough understanding, evaluating and documenting this repository of wisdom before it is dissipated in oblivion. Medicinal plants have figured highly in the life of man until the development of organic chemistry launched in 1805. When opium alkaloid morphine was isolated, and it was discovered that they have many advantages. Further, it was felt that modern medicine is about a quick fix rather than a cure. It emphasis is on the elimination of symptoms without determining the root cause of the disease, while alternative medicine stresses the point that there is no cure unless we determine and understand the cause of the disease. The objective person must acknowledge that we need synthetic medicines as well as drugs from medicinal plants and integrate the two by rediscovering the ancient hidden wisdom by realigning with pharmaceutical industry and open new avenues to therapies for the betterment and welfare of the humanity.
Finding the plants that work as a medicine is a race against time as half of the world’s plant species are to be found in tropical rain forest. So, probably, more than half the medicinal plants are there too. Forests are shrinking and every fear is there that important plant knowledge built by trial and error method may not disappear. Scientists throughout the world are now recognizing the inestimable value of medicinal plants. But it is sobering to know that only less than 5 per cent of total higher plants growing on this beautiful planet of earth have been investigated for pharmacological activity. This, increase the chances of identifying plants which have been under the main stay of therapeutics arsenal. Further, the environmentalists were not stressing on the importance of herbs. Nature hides unlimited therapeutics in the roots, stems, bark, flowers, leaves, fruits and seeds etc. and undoubtedly provide blue prints for thousands of medicinal substances. Therefore, the first and foremost step is to locate the herb (Medicinal Plant) which we are continuously destroying in our country mercilessly. Govt. of India has made good manufacturing certificate mandatory for all pharmacies to ensure the availability of good and quality medicine under alternative system. They have also been advised to employ a quality controller for the drugs. But how many manufacturing units are following the norms and it is because of these standards Indian drugs in the ayurveda, siddha, and unani system have not found ready acceptance in the developed countries.
Acknowledgments
The author is highly thankful to Shelja Kaul for assisting in the preparation of manuscript.
Table-1 List of Plants
S. No. Botanical Name Common Name Parts Used
1. Aeacia arabica Willd Babul Gum
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2. Aegle aarmelos Corr. Bel Bark
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3. Asparagus adscedens Roxb. Sheveat Shatavar Tubers
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4. Asparagus racemosus Willd Samary Shatavar Tubers
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5. Azadirachta indica A Juss. Neem Leaves,
Bark Seed
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6. Bougainvillae Spectabilis Willd Garden Glory Leaf
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7. Casearia esculenta Roxb. Mori Root
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8. Ceiba pentandra Linn. Kapok Root
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9. Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Eberm Tejpata Leaf
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10. Coccinia cordifolia Cogn. Kanduri Root, Leaf
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11. Couroupita guainensis Aube Nagalingam Flower
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12. Crataegus oxycantha Linn. Ban Sangli Flower, Bark
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13. Curcuma longa Linn. Haldi Rhizome
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14. Exacum bicolor Roxb. Bara Charayata Whole Plant
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15. Ficus bengalensis Linn. Bargad Bargad
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16. Ficus glomerata Roxb. Gular Root, Sap.
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17. Ficus rumphii Blume Pakar Root, Sap.
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18. Gossypium herbaceum Linn. Kapas Seed,Root,Stem
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19. Grewia asiatica Mast Phalsa Fruit
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20. Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. Gudmar Leaves
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21. Kyllinga tricep Rottb. Nirbisi Root
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22. Linaria cymbalaria Mill Linaria Plant
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23. Mangifera indica Linn. Aam Leaf
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24. Momordica charantia Linn. Karela Leaf, Fruit
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25. Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng Kakrol Whole Plant
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26. Oxalis corniculata Linn. Amrul Sak Whole Plant
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27. Phyllanthus emblica Linn. Amla Fruit
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28. Picrorhiza kurroa Royle Ex Benth Kutki Root
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29. Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. Bijasar Leaf, Bark
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30. Salacia chiensis Linn. Saptrangi Root
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31. Salacia oblonga Wall Ponkoranti Root
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32. Silybum marianum Linn. Milk thistle Flower
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33. Stevia rebaudiana Bert Stevia Leaf
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34. Syzygium cumini Linn. Jamun Seed & Fruit
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35. Tinospora cordifolia Willd Gilo Whole Plant
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36. Trigonella foenum graecum Linn. Methi Leaves
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37. Vinca rosea Linn. Sadhabahar Leaves
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38. Wethiania somnifera Dunal Ashavagandha Root
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39. Woodfordia fruiticosa Kurz Dhai Flower
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40. Zizyphus xylopyrus Willd Mullik Fruits
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Former Scientist at IIIM (CSIR) Jammu
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