Main Article Content
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by spersistent hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The global rise in diabetes prevalence has intensified the search for effective, safe, and affordable therapeutic strategies. Medicinal plants have long been used in traditional systems of medicine for the management of diabetes and its associated complications, and they continue to attract scientific interest as potential sources of novel antidiabetic agents. Numerous plant species have demonstrated antidiabetic activity through various mechanisms, including enhancement of insulin secretion, improvement of insulin sensitivity, inhibition of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, reduction of intestinal glucose absorption, and protection of pancreatic β-cells through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Bioactive phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and saponins are believed to play a crucial role in these pharmacological actions. Preclinical and clinical studies have provided evidence supporting the efficacy of several medicinal plants, such as Momordica charantia, Gymnema sylvestre, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and Allium sativum, in glycemic control and metabolic regulation. This article highlights the potential of medicinal plants in the management of diabetes mellitus, emphasizing their mechanisms of action, and the need for further standardization, toxicity evaluation, and well- designed clinical trials to establish their safety and efficacy for integration into modern diabetes management.