Natural medicines from plant source used for therapy of diabetes mellitus: An overview of its pharmacological aspects

Medicinal plants play an important role in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, especially in the developing countries due to their cost effectiveness. Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder, is becoming a serious threat to mankind health. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is expected to reach up to 4.4% in the world by 2030. Among all type of diabetes, type 2 diabetes is main complication. Currently available treatment options in modern medicine have several adverse effects. Therefore, there is a need to develop safe and effective treatment modalities for diabetes. In this regard, plants provide the best option for search of desired safe and effective medications. Since ancient times, plants have been an exemplary source of medicine. Various plants have been found to possess significant anti-diabetic property after their preclinical and clinical evaluation. This present review presents the profiles of plants with hypoglycaemic properties reported in the literature from 2009 to 2011. Use of these plants may delay the development of diabetic complications and can correct the metabolic abnormalities through variety of mechanisms. Moreover, during the past few years many phytoconstituents responsible for anti-diabetic effects have been isolated from plants. Since this review has been presented in a very interactive manner showing geographical region of availability, parts of plant used, mechanism of action and phytoconstituents responsible for particular action, it will be of great importance to intrested readers to easily identify and go for further research on the plant of their interest.     

Kampo medicines for gastrointestinal tract disorders: a review of basic science and clinical evidence and their future application

Treatment with kampo, the Japanese traditional medicine, is a form of pharmacological therapy that combines modern Western and traditional Asian medical practices. In Japan, various traditional medicines are often combined with Western medicines and prescribed for patients with diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, functional dyspepsia, chronic gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and post-operative ileus. Based on numerous past observations, Japanese traditional medicines are thought to be particularly useful in the treatment of medically unexplained physical symptoms such as nausea, abdominal discomfort, and anorexia. However, the detailed mechanism by which they mediate their pharmacological action is yet unknown. In addition, the clinical evidence to support their use is insufficient. This review focuses on the basic evidence of the pharmacological action and the clinical efficacies of kampo medicines accumulated over several past decades. In addition, we introduce both the current novel insights into kampo medicines and the therapeutic approach employed when they are used to treat various disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.     

A critical review on Nepal Dock(Rumex nepalensis):A tropical herb with immense medicinal importance

Rumex nepalensis Spreng.(Polygonaceae) commonly known as Nepal Dock has wide-spectrum therapeutic potencies and is extensively used for centuries in traditional medicine systems. The leaves of this plant are edible and a rich source of natural antioxidants. They act as a possible food supplement and are largely used in pharmaceutical industry. Extracts and metabolites from this plant exhibits pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, purgative, analgesic, antipyretic, anti-algal, central nervous system depressant, genotoxic, wound healing and skeletal muscle relaxant activity. Due to its remarkable biological activities, it has the potential to act as a rich source of drug against life threatening diseases. However, more studies are needed to scientifically validate the traditional uses of this plant, beside isolating and identifying their active principles and characterizing the mechanisms of action. We present herein a critical account of its botany, ecology, traditional uses, phytoconstituent profile and major pharmacological activities reported in recent years and therefore will provide a source of information on this plant for further studies.     

Identification of medicinal plants affecting on headaches and migraines in Lorestan Province,West of Iran

ObjectiveTo identify medicinal plants witch are used for headaches and migraines treatment in Lorestan province of Iran.MethodsTraditional medical herbs information was acquired from indigenous people with the cooperation of health centers of Doroud, Borujerd, Khorramabad, Aleshtar Poldokhtar, Aligoodarz, Nourabad and Kouhdasht cities. The prepared questionnaires were given to trained health volunteers. They attended in the villages and recorded people beliefs in herbal therapy by the questionnaires.ResultsThe results of this study showed that people used 15 herbs traditionally to treat headaches. Because of the importance of the medicinal plants in the study area, it is neccessary to determine sociological studies the plenty of plant species.ConclusionsBecause of the widespread use of traditional medicinal plants and high tendency to herbal medicine and traditional medicine, more extensive researches should be designed in several areas of pharmacy and pharmacology of medicinal plants to prepare proper information for pharmaceutical industries.     

Clinacanthus nutans:a review of the medicinal uses,pharmacology and phytochemistry

Clinacanthus nutans Lindau is known as snake grass belonging to the Acanlhaceae family.This plant has diverse and potential medicinal uses in traditional herbal medicine for treating skin rashes,insects and snake bites,lesions caused by herpes simplex virus,diabetes,and gout in Malaysia.Indonesia.Thailand and China.Phylochemieal investigations documented the varied contents of bioaclive compounds from litis plant namely flavonoids,glycosides,glycoglyeerolipids.cerebrosides and monoacylmonogalatosylglycerol.The pharmacological experiment proved that various types of extracts and pure compounds from this species exhibited a broad range of biological properties such as anti-inflammatory,antiviral,antioxidant,and anti-diabetic activities.The lindings of toxicity study showed that extracts from this plant did not show any toxicity thus it can be used as strong therapeutic agents for specific diseased conditions.However,further experiments on chemical components and their mode of action showing biological activities are required to elucidate the complete phytochemical profile and assess to confirm their suitability tor future drugs.This review summarizes the medicinal uses,phytochemistry and pharmacology of this plant in order to explore its therapeutic potential and gaps necessitating for prospected research work.     

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in the management of diabetes mellitus in the Urmia,Northwest Iran

ObjectiveTo collect and document information on anti-diabetic plants traditionally used in the treating of diabetes in Urmia at Northwest Iran because ethnomedicines are considered as valuable sources to find new potential drugs.MethodsWe used the method of direct observation and interview (35 traditional healers) along with gathering herbarium specimens mentioned plants in site.ResultsThere were 30 medicinal plants from 17 families for the treatment of diabetes. The family with most plants was Lamiaceae (20%). Leaves (20%) are often used and its form is decoction (70%). It was also found that Citrullus colocynthis has the most frequency of use among traditional healers.ConclusionsFurthermore, base on current findings many of the mentioned plants have potential active ingredients to influence diabetes.     

A review study on analgesic applications of Iranian medicinal plants

Numerous side effects of synthetic drugs have caused medicinal plants to be regarded in recent decades as a reliable source of new drugs. Regarding the analgesic effects of many plants that are pointed in traditional medicine of Iran, many studies have been performed in this field that have caused need to be reviewed. In this study, different methods of testing pain, analgesic activity and possible compounds of medicinal plants and also the possible mechanisms actions of these plants are presented. The data presented in this review paper provide scientific information that might be used for isolation of potentially active compounds from some of these medicinal plants in future.     

Phytopharmacological potential of the natural gift Moringa oleifera Lam and its therapeutic application: An overview

Traditionally, medicinal plants of family Moringaceae have been well-recognized due to their multipurpose utilization in various fields such as treatment of several diseases for they have a broad range of pharmacological activities, in wastewater treatment as well as food source. Fractionation of this medicinal plants and its bioactivity study discloses the presence of several phytoconstituents and secondary metabolites like terpenes, flavonoids, steroids, phenolic compounds, tannins, carohydrates, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals. The results of bioactivity study results revealed that different extracts such as aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic of Moringa oleifera showed notable therapeutic activities. Our present review explore and focus on the phytochemical composition and various pharmacological activities like immunomodulator, antidiabetic, antiulcer, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, antiepileptic, cardioprotective, lipid lowering, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, anti-nephrotoxicity and anti-microbial activities to arouse public consciousness about the nutritional and medicinal value of this "miracle tree-Moringa oleifera" in favor of humanity.     

丹参-川芎药对治疗心脑血管疾病的作用机制及临床研究

药物配伍是中药复方的关键指导思想,也是中药现代化研究的重要内容。丹参与川芎在中医临床中广泛用于防治心脑血管疾病,如冠心病、心绞痛、脑卒中和动脉粥样硬化等。近期研究发现,丹参-川芎药对为活血化淤类复方中药中最常见的组合,能够发挥抗动脉粥样硬化、减轻血管内皮损伤、抗炎症反应、抗缺血再灌注损伤、抗血栓等药理作用。本文从物质基础、作用机制、临床应用等方面对丹参-川芎药对的研究进行了系统性阐述,为基于丹参-川芎药对组合现代中药的合理应用与有效开发提供了依据。     

Exploring dynamic biomedical algorithm of Eurycoma longifolia Jack and its bioactive phytochemicals: A review of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic implications and future prospects

Eurycoma longifolia Jack(E.longifolia) is a well-recognized traditional herbal medicine that offers a wide dynamic range of biomedical applications including anti-osteoporotic, anticancer, anti-proliferative, anti-malarial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, antiinflammatory, anxiolytic, anti-diabetic, anti-rheumatism and anti-ulcer properties.This review aims to overview the pharmacokinetic and a pharmacodynamic algorithm of E.longifolia and its bioactive components.Analysis of pharmacokinetic profile revealed that E.longifolia exhibit higher bioavailability, high volume of distribution, slow elimination rate, and does not show inhibitory effects on cytochrome P450 isoenzymes.E.longifolia has been used, alone or in combination with other pharmacological agents, in the form of crude extracts, standard extracts, or decoctions of different plant parts(i.e., herbs, shrubs, stem, leaves, and roots) for the treatment of various ailments in animals and humans.Among various bioactive constituents, eurycomanone has been found to be the most remarkable, super-stable, versatile, and most potent phytochemical(isolated or extracted from root extracts) against various types of animals and human diseases.Based on its well-established pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, we suggested that E.longifolia can be a well-accepted complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of different types of human ailments.     

A natural history of botanical therapeutics

Plants have been used as a source of medicine throughout history and continue to serve as the basis for many pharmaceuticals used today. Although the modern pharmaceutical industry was born from botanical medicine, synthetic approaches to drug discovery have become standard. However, this modern approach has led to a decline in new drug development in recent years and a growing market for botanical therapeutics that are currently available as dietary supplements, drugs, or botanical drugs. Most botanical therapeutics are derived from medicinal plants that have been cultivated for increased yields of bioactive components. The phytochemical composition of many plants has changed over time, with domestication of agricultural crops resulting in the enhanced content of some bioactive compounds and diminished content of others. Plants continue to serve as a valuable source of therapeutic compounds because of their vast biosynthetic capacity. A primary advantage of botanicals is their complex composition consisting of collections of related compounds having multiple activities that interact for a greater total activity.     

Traditional effects of medicinal plants in the treatment of respiratory diseases and disorders: an ethnobotanical study in the Urmia

ObjectiveTo identify, present and review the respiratoty medicinal plants which used by Urmian herbalists.MethodsThe list of traditional healers of West Azarbaijan Province was prepared and data were obtained by direct observation, interviews and the questionnaires After that, herbarium samples were collected from the desired area and deposited in herbarium unit of the Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.ResultsOur results demonstrated that 20 medicinal plants from 10 plant families are used to treat respiratory disorders. Also, the most plant part that used for treating of respiratory disorders was seed (27%) and the most traditional form prescribed by herbalists was boiled (54%). Forty three percentage of Urmia herbalists have used herbs for the treatment of cough.ConclusionsPeople in this area have a strong belief that plants have a positive impact in the treatment of respiratory disorders and they have used medicinal plants since ancient times to treat these disorders. Our study revealed the importance of herbal medicines and traditional medicine in this area as medicinal resource for drug discovery in future.     

A survey of the use of medicinal plants and other traditional medicine in Kasese District, Uganda

The use and value of traditional plants and medicines is only slowly being investigated by Western medical organizations. A survey of 492 members of support groups and health-care clinics in Kasese district, Uganda was undertaken in a group setting: 23 groups with a mean size of 21, age range 4-53, which represented 0.1% of the population, covering nine of the 20 sub-counties, both in the native languages and in English, using photographs and specimens of 12 plants. Most admitted to using plants at some time-81% for self, 77% for their children; 45% admitted to using traditional healers as a source for information about health. Most plants were home grown or available locally. Medicinal plants were used for respiratory infections, fever, malaria and diarrhoea/vomiting. HIV/AIDS was rarely treated with medicinal plants.     

A target based therapeutic approach towards diabetes mellitus using medicinal plants

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is not one disease but is a heterogonous group of syndromes. Contrary to the popular belief DM is a metabolic disorder characterized by increased blood glucose level (hyperglycemia) and this is because of insufficient or inefficient insulin secretary response. Glucose is the main energy source for the body, and in the case of DM, management of glucose becomes irregular. There are around 410 experimentally proven medicinal plants having antidiabetic properties but the complete mechanism of action is available only for about 109. There are several medicinal plants whose extract modulate glycolysis, Krebs cycle, gluconeogenesis, HMP shunt pathway, glycogen synthesis and their degradation, cholesterol synthesis, metabolism and absorption of carbohydrates, and synthesis and release of insulin. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the mode of action of medicinal plants that exhibit anti-diabetic properties.     

Phytochemical and ethnopharmacological review of Elephantorrhiza goetzei(Harms) Harms

Elephantorrhiza goetzei(E.goetzei) commonly known as Goetze's elephantorrhiza,is traditionally used as a decoction in the treatment of a variety of conditions such as pain,sores,sexually transmitted infections(STIs),gastro-intestinal disorders,microbial infections and genito-urinary system disorders.On the basis of its wide distribution in south central Africa,E.goetzei has a long history of applications among the different ethnic groups.A total of 23 ethnomedicinal uses of E.goetzei are documented in this study from 62.5% of the countries where the species is indigenous.Multiple classes of phytochemicals including phenolic compounds,coumarins,flavonoids,saponins,stilbenoids,tannins and triterpenoids have been identified from E.goetzei bark,leaves and roots in different investigations.Scientific validation of its diverse uses in traditional medicine has been demonstrated through antibacterial,antifungal,antiviral,anthelmintic,antioxidant and cytotoxicity assays of crude extracts as well as isolated compounds from the species.E.goetzei has been widely used as a source of herbal medicine for several years without any adverse effects.In light of its long traditional use and the modern phytochemical and pharmacological evaluations summarized in this study,E.goetzei has been demonstrated to show a strong potential for therapeutic and health-maintaining uses.However,there is need for additional studies on the isolated compounds to validate the traditional uses in human models as well as evaluating the possible mechanisms of action.The present review focusing on the biology,traditional uses,phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of E.goetzei has provided preliminary information for further studies on the species.     

A review on most important herbal and synthetic antihelmintic drugs

Parasites and parasitic diseases are widely spread in the world. Their adverse effects on health and social-economic society cause tremendous public health problems. Parasitic infections in different ways (water, soil, food and vegetables) can affect humans and induce other complications such as gastrointestinal disorders, malnutrition, anemia and allergies and sometimes even life threatening. Medicinal plants are being widely used, either as a single drug or in combination with synthetic drugs. These medicinal plants are considered as a valuable source of unique natural products and drugs for development of medicines against various disorders and diseases. In this article the recently published papers about medicinal plants and parasites were reviewed, using scientific sites such as Medline, PubMed and Google Scholar. The used terms included: herbal medicine, medicinal plants, and antihelmintic drugs, antinematoda, anticestoda, antitrematoda. From the above collected literature it might be concluded that these plants are promising potential sources for preparation of new drugs or for pharmacological and therapeutic applications.     

Cytotoxic,mutagenic and genotoxic evaluation of crude extracts and fractions from Piper jericoense with trypanocidal action

The current Chagas disease treatment is based on two drugs, nifurtimox and benznidazole, which is considered unsatisfactory, not only because of the narrow therapeutic range but also because of the associated toxicity. Natural products are considered an important source of biologically active compounds against various infectious organisms. Numerous Piper species are used in traditional medicine to treat parasitic diseases. In this paper, we study the activity of extracts and fractions obtained from Piper jericoense plant against epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. In addition, we evaluated the cytotoxic, mutagenic and genotoxic activities of the F4 fraction obtained from one of the more promising extracts. We obtained four extracts, one of which presented low toxicity and high trypanocidal activity. This extract was separated into eight fractions, and the F4 fraction presented better results than the other extracts and had a higher selectivity index than the reference drug, benznidazole. This fraction was not cytotoxic, mutagenic or genotoxic.     

Factors influencing the selection of general internal medicine fellowship programs

Although criteria are available to guide the selection of general internal medicine (GIM) fellowship programs, the factors actually used in this process are unclear. Using a survey of current GIM fellows, we determined that most received information from their residency advisors, and many viewed them as the most important source of fellowship information. Program location was the top selection factor for fellows, followed by research opportunities, availability of a mentor, and the reputation of the program. This information may be useful to both fellowship candidates as an additional selection guide and to program directors seeking to best structure and market their fellowships.     

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and their role in Type 2 diabetes management

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are a new pharmacological class of drugs for treating Type 2 diabetes. They improve the capacity of the organism to control glycemia by increasing the levels of active incretins. Their mechanism of action is thus radically different from those of other anti-diabetic drugs currently available. DDP-4 inhibitors use a physiological mechanism to control hyperglycemia, by stimulating the secretion of insulin from beta-cells, decreasing the secretion of glucagon from pancreatic alpha-cells, and at the same time reducing the production of glucose by the liver. DDP-4 inhibitors have shown significant efficacy in maintaining reduced levels of glycosylated hemoglobin for up to 1 year. In vitro and animal studies have shown that they can inhibit apoptosis of beta-cells and favor their regeneration and differentiation. The oral DPP-4 inhibitors vildagliptin, sitagliptin, and saxagliptin are efficacious both alone and in association with other oral anti-diabetic agents and may be administered in a single daily dose. Lastly, they have substantial advantages with respect to other anti-diabetic drugs, since they involve a low risk of hypoglycemia and do not affect body weight.