Effect of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf) tea in a type 2 diabetes rat model

Ethnomedicinal Knowledge of Plants Used in Nonconventional Medicine in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Background

People with diabetes, herbalists, and traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) from Kinshasa use plants to treat diabetes, but no study has inventoried the plants used by these populations. The present study was conducted to identify the plants used in Kinshasa to treat diabetes mellitus.

Methods

The survey conducted in the form of a semistructured interview between March 2005 and August 2006 made it possible to collect ethnobotanical information from people with diabetes (n = 126), herbalists (n = 80), and TMPs (n = 120).

Results

The 326 subjects consulted (sex ratio M/F = 0.6, age 51 ± 7 years, and experience: 17 ± 5 years) provided information on 71 plants, most of which are trees (35%), belonging to 38 families dominated by Fabaceae (19.7%) and indicated in 51 other cases of consultation dominated by malaria (12%). From these 71 plants derived, 86 antidiabetic recipes were administered orally, where the leaf is the most used part (>50%) and the decoction (>46%) is the most common mode of preparation. This study reports for the first time the antidiabetic use of 11 species, among which Tephrosia vogeliiX (0.08), Chromolaena corymbosaX (0.06), and Baphia capparidifoliaX (0.06) present the highest consensus indexes (CI) and Marsdenia latifoliaW (UVp = 0.08) and Rauvolfia manniiX (UVp = 0.06) present the highest UVs.

Conclusion

The results show that Kinshasa people treat diabetes using several plants. Some are specific to the ecological environment; others are used in other regions. Pharmacological studies are underway to assess the therapeutic efficacy of these plants.

Review of phytomedicine, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacological activities of Cymbopogon genus

The Cymbopogon genus belongs to the Andropoganeae family of the family Poaceae, which is famous for its high essential oil concentration. Cymbopogon possesses a diverse set of characteristics that supports its applications in cosmetic, pharmaceuticals and phytotherapy. The purpose of this review is to summarize and connect the evidence supporting the use of phytotherapy, phytomedicine, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, toxicology, pharmacological activities, and quality control of the Cymbopogon species and their extracts. To ensure the successful completion of this review, data and studies relating to this review were strategically searched and obtained from scientific databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, and Elsevier. Approximately 120 acceptable reviews, original research articles, and other observational studies were included and incorporated for further analysis. Studies showed that the genus Cymbopogon mainly contained flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which were the pivotal pharmacological active ingredients. When combined with the complex β-cyclodextrin, phytochemicals such as citronellal have been shown to have their own mechanism of action in inhibiting the descending pain pathway. Another mechanism of action described in this review is that of geraniol and citral phytochemicals, which have rose and lemon-like scents and can be exploited in soaps, detergents, mouthwash, cosmetics, and other products. Many other pharmacological effects, such as anti-protozoal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer have been discussed sequentially, along with how and which phytochemicals are responsible for the observed effect. Cymbopogon species have proven to be extremely valuable, with many applications. Its phytotherapy is proven to be due to its rich phytochemicals, obtained from different parts of the plant like leaves, roots, aerial parts, rhizomes, and even its essential oils. For herbs of Cymbopogon genus as a characteristic plant therapy, significant research is required to ensure their efficacy and safety for a variety of ailments.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antidiabetic Potential of Monoterpenoids: An Update

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic condition characterized by persistent hyperglycemia due to insufficient insulin levels or insulin resistance. Despite the availability of several oral and injectable hypoglycemic agents, their use is associated with a wide range of side effects. Monoterpenes are compounds extracted from different plants including herbs, vegetables, and fruits and they contribute to their aroma and flavor. Based on their chemical structure, monoterpenes are classified into acyclic, monocyclic, and bicyclic monoterpenes. They have been found to exhibit numerous biological and medicinal effects such as antipruritic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. Therefore, monoterpenes emerged as promising molecules that can be used therapeutically to treat a vast range of diseases. Additionally, monoterpenes were found to modulate enzymes and proteins that contribute to insulin resistance and other pathological events caused by DM. In this review, we highlight the different mechanisms by which monoterpenes can be used in the pharmacological intervention of DM via the alteration of certain enzymes, proteins, and pathways involved in the pathophysiology of DM. Based on the fact that monoterpenes have multiple mechanisms of action on different targets in in vitro and in vivo studies, they can be considered as lead compounds for developing effective hypoglycemic agents. Incorporating these compounds in clinical trials is needed to investigate their actions in diabetic patients in order to confirm their ability in controlling hyperglycemia.