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World J Diabetes. Apr 15, 2014; 5(2): 176-197
Published online Apr 15, 2014. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v5.i2.176
Published online Apr 15, 2014. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v5.i2.176
Phytotherapy in diabetes: Review on potential mechanistic perspectives
Hanan S El-Abhar, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini Str., 11562 Cairo, Egypt
Mona F Schaalan, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University, KM 28 Cairo, Egypt
Author contributions: El-Abhar HS and Schaalan MF solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Mona Schaalan, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University, Cairo-Ismailia Road, KM 28 Cairo Egypt. mona.schaalan@miuegypt.edu.eg
Telephone: +2-1-002011100 Fax: +2-1-02011100
Received: November 22, 2013
Revised: January 7, 2014
Accepted: March 13, 2014
Published online: April 15, 2014
Revised: January 7, 2014
Accepted: March 13, 2014
Published online: April 15, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Diabetes is a serious metabolic disorder that is currently treated by different types of synthetic oral hypoglycemic agents, in addition to insulin. However, due to the unwanted side effects, the efficacies of these compounds are debatable and there is a demand for new compounds for the treatment of diabetes. Therefore, attention has been directed towards nutraceuticals originating from plants that are rich in antidiabetic phyto-constituents. Although the evidenced-based therapeutic usage of many plants is scarce, the plants cited in this review are those reputed traditionally for their antidiabetic effect and that were verified either experimentally or clinically.