Formulating anti-diabetic nutraceutical tablets based on edible plants from Tripura, India

Bioactive alkaloidal and phenolic phytochemicals as promising epidrugs for diabetes mellitus 2: A review of recent development

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains a major chronic metabolic disorder affecting hundreds of millions of the global population, mostly among adults, engendering high rates of morbidity and mortality. It is characterized by complex aetiologies including insulin deficiency and resistance, and hyperglycemia, and these significantly constitute therapeutic challenges. Several pathways have been implicated in its pathophysiology and treatment including the epigenetic regulatory mechanism, notably, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation/demethylation, histone modification, non-coding ribonucleic acid (ncRNA) modulation and other relevant pathways. Many studies have recently documented the implications of phytochemicals on the aforementioned biomarkers in the pathogenesis and treatment of T2D. In this review, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the epigenetic effects of some bioactive alkaloidal and phenolic phytochemicals as potential therapeutic alternatives for T2D have been overviewed from the recent literature (2019-2024). From the survey, the natural product-based compounds, C1-C32 were curated as potent epigenetic modulators for T2D. Their cellular and molecular mechanisms of anti-T2D activities with relevant epigenetic biomarkers were revealed. Although, more comprehensive experimental analyses are observably required for validating their activity and toxicological indices. Thus, perspectives and challenges were enumerated for such demanding future translational studies. The review reveals advances in scientific efforts towards reversing the global trend of T2D through epigenetic phytotherapeutics.

Antidiabetic Properties of Plant Secondary Metabolites

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is one of the major medical problems that the modern world is currently facing. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus both result in early disability and death, as well as serious social and financial problems. In some cases, synthetic drugs can be quite effective in the treatment of diabetes, though they have side effects. Plant-derived pharmacological substances are of particular interest. This review aims to study the antidiabetic properties of secondary plant metabolites. Existing review and research articles on the investigation of the antidiabetic properties of secondary plant metabolites, the methods of their isolation, and their use in diabetes mellitus, as well as separate articles that confirm the relevance of the topic and expand the understanding of the properties and mechanisms of action of plant metabolites, were analyzed for this review. The structure and properties of plants used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, including plant antioxidants, polysaccharides, alkaloids, and insulin-like plant substances, as well as their antidiabetic properties and mechanisms for lowering blood sugar, are presented. The main advantages and disadvantages of using phytocomponents to treat diabetes are outlined. The types of complications of diabetes mellitus and the effects of medicinal plants and their phytocomponents on them are described. The effects of phytopreparations used to treat diabetes mellitus on the human gut microbiota are discussed. Plants with a general tonic effect, plants containing insulin-like substances, plants-purifiers, and plants rich in vitamins, organic acids, etc. have been shown to play an important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the prevention of its complications.

Proximate, Vitamins, Minerals and Anti-Nutritive Constituents of the Leaf and Stem of Helichrysum odoratissimum (L.) Sweet: A Folk Medicinal Plant in South Africa

Helichrysum odoratissimum (L.) Sweet (Asteraceae) is a perennial shrub used in South African folk medicine to combat human diseases such as diabetes, coughs, asthma, and diarrhoea, and for wound treatment. This study evaluated the leaf and stem of H. odoratissimum for their nutritive and anti-nutritive qualities using the standard methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and colorimetry. Crude fat and protein were high in the leaf (7.61% and 7.82% DW), but low in the stem (2.25% and 3.4%), respectively. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content was significantly higher in the stem (68.5%) compared to the leaf (43.6%), while non-fibre carbohydrate (NFC) in the leaf (24.93%) was higher than in the stem (15.67%). Mineral analysis showed that both the leaf and stem of H. odoratissimum are good sources of potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. Appreciable amounts of vitamins B2, C and E in the leaf and stem supports the folkloric utility of the plant in the traditional treatment of wounds, coughs and colds. A tolerable amount of phytate in both leaf (0.36%) and stem (1.06%) might be a factor for safer consumption of the plant as food and medicine. These findings suggest the use of the plant as a source for dietary supplementation and ethnomedicinal applications.