Natural Antidiabetic Agents: Current Evidence and Development Pathways from Medicinal Plants to Clinical use

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a long-term metabolic condition marked by chronically high levels of glucose in the blood due to insufficient synthesis of insulin or impaired insulin function. Throughout history, several civilizations have used traditional medicinal plants to treat and control diabetes. This paper offers a thorough review, to date, of the antidiabetic natural compounds of medicinal plants origin, specifically highlighting their reported modes or mechanisms of action and therapeutic possibilities, with a view to fast-tracking the possibility of their transition to pharmaceutical products for human use. Phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and glycosides have notable antidiabetic effects. They have been shown to control blood glucose levels via many processes, including boosting insulin secretion, improving insulin sensitivity, blocking glucose absorption in the \gastrointestinal-tract, and regulating carbohydrate metabolism. Unlike earlier reviews, this current one, in addition to the chemistry and proposed mechanisms of action, also x-rays the effectiveness and safety of these natural chemicals by combining evidences from laboratory research, animal experiments, and clinical trials. Several substances, such as Demethoxycurcumin, Trigonelline, and Ginsenosides, have progressed to clinical trials, while others like Allicin and Polypeptide-p have been used at the bedside. Several substances, including Bisdemethoxycurcumin, Vicine, and Gymnemosides, are now in the preclinical trial phase, suggesting that research is still ongoing and there is promise for their future medicinal application. The review highlights the evolution of chemicals in diabetes management, highlighting their potential to improve treatment. It suggests incorporating plant-derived compounds into traditional treatments, reducing dependence on drugs and reducing adverse effects.