Antidiabetic Activity Methods

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by the destruction of pancreatic β cells or reduced insulin secretion and action, and is one of the most common health problems worldwide. Its incidence is increasing at a high rate, resulting in enormous social costs. Various drugs show their effectiveness by improving insulin sensitivity, and reducing glucose production in the liver or other tissues. Several preclinical studies on diabetes-induced in animals using surgical, pharmacological or genetic methods demonstrated the effectiveness of these drugs. The anti-diabetic activity of plants has been attributed to the occurrence of primary and secondary metabolites characterized by many beneficial effects with advantages over chemical treatments. A number of studies have demonstrated the potential health benefits of phytocomponents in treating DM by acting on multiple molecular targets. Therefore, it is important to test in vitro assays. This review includes methods for the evaluation of preclinical anti-diabetic activities and summarizes the potential of natural resources to prevent and/or treat diabetes. In addition, the database contains information including the plant name, useful plant parts, active compounds, and their mechanisms of action, in which in vitro and in vivo methods were studied.

Keywords: Anti-diabetic Activity, In vitro Assays, In vivo Assays, Natural Products, Preclinical Investigations, Mechanism.