Diabetes is a deep-seated and persistent ailment that has a comprehensive
and long term effect on carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. This malady is
usually associated with hyperglycemia over an extended time which may be due to
either flaw in the production of pancreatic insulin or implausible insulin target tissue.
Current pharmacological treatment strategies aim to promote pancreatic insulin release,
reduce glucose output from the liver, or increase insulin sensitivity of adipocytes. But
none of these current strategies have an appreciable curative effect on diabetes.
Continuous exercise and workouts accompanied by lifestyle modifications have been
found to improve glycemic control in diabetic patients which have not been well
adapted with all patients. This emphasizes the role and urges herbal anti-diabetic drugs
as they have a remarkably wide array of primary and secondary metabolites that have
noted anti-diabetic actions accompanied by anti-oxidant action. But an herbal antidiabetic
drug has got some limitations like a difference in constituents due to different
geographical locations, scientific misidentification, product contamination,
inappropriate time and method of harvesting, adulteration, etc. So, drug standardization
is an indispensable tool to ensure the safety and efficacy of herbal anti-diabetic drugs.
Regulatory agencies worldwide have set up stringent regulatory frameworks that have
led to the development of herbal anti-diabetic drugs positively. When two or more
drugs (either herbal or synthetic) are administered together, there may be either
chemical or pharmacological interaction that may alter the effect of either both or
sometimes one agent which cannot be easily predicted and understandable. These
interactions may affect clinical safety and efficacy via additive/synergistic or
antagonistic interactions. While antagonistic interactions tend to receive more attention
due to safety concerns, additive/synergistic interactions increase the desired
pharmacological response which is a boon to us in treatment, for which special
attention has to be paid. In this chapter, a detailed and in-depth analysis of herbal antidiabetic
drugs and various commonly used anti-diabetic plants are discussed. Also, problems associated with herbal anti-diabetic drugs and methods to overcome along
with special emphasis on their clinical and therapeutic implications including reported
herb-drug interactions, are examined.
Keywords: Abelmoschus esculentus, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Anti-diabetic,
Bauhinia megalandra, Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, Capparis decidua, Herbs,
Herb-drug interactions, Hintonia latiflora, Natural, Pandanus odorus, Quercetin-
3-O-β- glucopyranosyl-(1″′→6″)-glucoside, Xanthium strumarium.
