Zafar H Israili
Emory University School of Medicine, USA
Title: Plants with antidiabetic activity; mechanisms of action
Biography
Biography: Zafar H Israili
Abstract
Diabetes, one of the most common endocrine metabolic disorder (285 million diabetics), affects the eyes, kidney, brain, heart, limbs and the nervous system. Presently available antidiabetic drugs (insulin, sulfonylureas, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, GLP-1 mimetics/analogs, DPP-4 inhibitors, meglitinides, amylin analogs, SGLT2 inhibitor and α-glucosidase/aldolase/reductase/amylase inhibitors) become less effective over time and also have safety and tolerability issues. Worldwide about 800-1200 plants (herbs) reported to be used to treat diabetes, are low cost, readily available, and perceived to be non-toxic. The mechanisms of hypoglycemic action of many of these plants are similar to those of the conventional antidiabetic agents: 1) Insulin-like activity (Cinnamomum cassia/C. zeylanicum, etc.); 2) Insulinotropic effect (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni); 3) Insulin sensitization (Momordica charantia, S. rebaudiana Bertoni, Synsepalum dulcificum); 4) Induction of insulin-like glucose transport into adipocytes (Lagerstroemia speciosa); 5) Alpha-glucosidase inhibition {Acosmium panamense (Benth.), M. charantia]; 6) Aldolase reductase inhibition (Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol., Fructus Arctii); 7) Alpha-amylase (pancreatic) inhibition (Azadirachta indica, Eugenia jambolana); 8) Liver gluconeogenesis inhibition (M. charantia and S. rebaudiana); 9) Increasing GLP-1 binding to receptor (Artemisia dracunculus L.); 10) PPAR-γ agonist (Punica granatum, Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton.); 11) Dual-PPAR-α/γ agonist activity (P. granatum); 12) Inhibition of sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter-2 (Nigella sativa seeds); 13) Inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Persea americana Mill); 14) Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (M. charantia), etc. Shortcomings of plant medicine include, diagnosis and therapeutic effectiveness mostly based upon symptoms and relief of symptoms, lack of standardization for quality, dosing, and efficacy, and toxicity may ignored or not recognized.