Medicinal plants: A promising source of anti-diabetic agents in sub-Sahara Africa

Abstract The rising burden of Diabetes mellitus (DM) globally and particularly in sub-Sahara Africa calls for alternative treatment solutions. This is because the currently available drugs its management are limited due to undesirable adverse effects high cost. Thus, this review explores diabetes summarizes options, focusing mainly on medicinal plants therapy. Information twenty-five selected from having hypoglycemic anti-diabetic potentials was obtained via electronic search major databases, such as Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar web science. Predominant bioactive compounds found these include tannins, carpaine, terpenoids, hexadecenoic acid, luteolin, saponins, glycosides, rutin, quercetin, vindoline kaempferol. Robust evidence indicates that their components exert antidiabetic different mechanisms, including: regeneration pancreatic β-cell insulin secretion; inhibition α-amylase, intestinal glucose absorption liver production; antioxidative stress; limitation glycogen degradation gluconeogenesis; anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory. DM imposes a tremendous region, prevalence not abating; thus rich flora region with known efficacy could be explored complementary therapy management.