Medicinal plants utilized in Thai Traditional Medicine for diabetes treatment: Ethnobotanical surveys, scientific evidence and phytochemicals

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Gomes, NGM (Author) Other; Duangsrisai, S (Author) Other; Paula B Andrade (Author) FFUP; David M Pereira (Author) FFUP; Valentao, P (Author) Other; Andrade, C (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Vol. 263

ISSN: 0378-8741

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 6 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-MFS

DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113177

Abstract (EN): Ethnopharmacological relevance: Diabetes mellitus remains the most lethal metabolic disease of contemporaneous times and despite the therapeutic arsenal currently available, research on new antidiabetic agents remains a priority. In recent years, the revitalization of Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM) became a clear priority for the Thai government, and many efforts have been undertaken to accelerate research on herbal medicines and their use in medical services in various hospitals. Additionally, and particularly in rural areas, treatment of diabetes and associated symptomatology frequently relies on herbal preparations recommended by practitioners of TTM. In the current work, medicinal plants used in Thailand for treating diabetes, as well as their hypoglycaemic pharmacological evidences and potential therapeutic use for diabetes-related complications were reviewed. Materials and methods: Ethnopharmacological information on the plant materials used in TTM for diabetes treatment was collected through literature search in a range of scientific databases using the search terms: diabetes, folk medicine, Thailand medicinal plants, traditional medicine. Information regarding scientific evidence on the antidiabetic effects of surveyed species was obtained considering not only the most common taxonomic designation, but also taxonomic synonyms, and including the keywords 'diabetes' and 'hypoglycaemic effect'. Results: A total of 183 species known to be used for diabetes management in TTM were reviewed, with 30% of them still lacking experimental evidences to support claims regarding the mechanisms and phytochemicals underlying their antidiabetic properties. Moreover, a total of 46 bioactives displaying effective antidiabetic effects have been isolated from 24 species, their underlying mechanism(s) of action being fully or partially disclosed. Conclusions: We deliver the most extensive survey dealing with the ethnomedicinal knowledge of Thai medicinal plants utilized on diabetes management. We are certain that the current review will spark further research on Thai plants for the development of new standardized phytomedicines through drug discovery programmes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 54