DOI: 10.36347/sajp

Pages: 162-177

With increased morbidity and mortality, diabetes mellitus is emerging as major health problem. 69% adults of developing countries and 20% of developed countries are susceptible to diabetes. Insulin therapy is suggested only when diet or oral hypoglycemic fails to control blood glucose levels and in case of postpancreatectomy. Insulin analogues are advantageous with low risk of hypoglycemia particularly nocturnal hypoglycemia. Drawbacks of insulin therapy are like local pain, inconvenience of multiple injections, insulin edema, lipohypertropy, insulin allergy, resistance and above all of this are weight gain. Oral hypoglycemic agents like Sulphonylureas (Glibenclamide, Glipizide, Gliclazide), NonSulphonylureas (Nateglinide, Repaglinide), Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (Acarbose, Miglitol), Dipeptidylpeptidase(DPP) IV inhibitors (Sitagliptin, Linagliptin, Alogliptin, Dutogliptin, Gemiglaptin) are used for treatment of diabetes but they have their own limitations due to selective mechanism of action. WHO in 1976 officially recognized importance of traditional medicine as source of primary health care by globally addressing its traditional medicine programme. India being the botanical garden of the world, is the largest producer of medicinal herbs. 21,000 plants are listed by WHO, used for medicinal purposes around the world. This review covers phytochemical and pharmacological accounts of some plants with antidiabetec potential.