Aromatic and medicinal plants with anti-diabetic potential from India: A review

Uttarakhand is characterized by a rich diversity of ethno-medicinal plants as well as a rich heritage of traditional medicine. Since ancient times, plants have been an exemplary source of medicine. Ayurveda and other Indian literature have mentioned the use of plants in treatment of various human ailments. Medicinal plants play an important role in the management of diabetes mellitus especially in developing countries where resources are meager. Diabetes is a growing health concern worldwide and is now emerging as an epidemic. The management of diabetes is still a major challenge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 90% of the population in developing countries uses plants and their products as traditional medicine for primary health care. There are about 800 plants that have been reported to show anti-diabetic potential. Thus there is great opportunity for research on natural products with anti-diabetic properties. Numerous studies have confirmed the benefits of medicinal plants with anti-hyper-glycemic effects in the management of diabetes mellitus. This literature based review provides a starting point for future studies of bioactive anti-diabetic compounds present in plants from Uttrakhand.