| Plant and family |
Plant part used |
Bioactive principles |
Mechanism of action |
References |
| Allium cepa (Onion); Alliaceae |
Onion bulbs. |
• S-methyl cysteine sulphoxide.
• S-allylcysteinesulphoxide.
|
• Stimulate insulin secretion.
• Compete with insulin for insulin inactivating sites in the liver. |
[28,29] |
| Allium sativum (Garlic); Alliaceae. |
Garlic gloves |
• S-methyl cysteine sulphoxide. Precursor of allicin and garlic oil. |
• Stimulate insulin secretion.
• Inhibit glucose production by the liver |
[28,30] |
Aloe vera (Aloe barbedensis);
Aspholedeceae |
Leaf, pulp and gel. |
• Phytosterols. |
• Stimulate synthesis and/or release of insulin
• Alter the activity of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes. |
[31,32] |
| Catharanthusroseus; Apocynaceae |
Fresh leaf juice. |
• Alkaloids: catharanthine, leurosine and vindolinine.
• Taninins. |
• Increase hepatic utilization of glucose.
• Suppress activities of gluconeogenic enzymes. |
[33,34] |
| Cinnamomumcassie (Chinese cinnamon); Lauraceae |
Bark. |
• Cinnamaldehyde.
• Cinnamic alcohol.
• Methyl hydroxyl chaconne polymer. |
• Enhance insulin action.
• Increase glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. |
[35] |
Cocciniaindica;
Cucurbitaceae |
Leaves. |
• Beta sitosterol.
• Pectin |
• Suppress glucose-6-phosphatase.
• Stimulate glycogen synthase activity and reduction of phosphorylase activity. |
[36,37] |
| Fiscusbengalensis; Moraceae |
Leaves and bark. |
• Lecoperlargonin derivative. |
• Increase insulin secretion.
• Inhibit insulinase activity. |
[38] |
Gymmemaslyvestre (Gurnar);
Asclepiadaceae |
Leaves. |
• Gymnenosides and gymnemic acid (from saponin fraction).
• Trilepene glycosides. |
• Stimulate insulin secretion from rat Islets.
• Decrease the activity of gluconeogenic enzymes.
• Induce β-cell regeneration. |
[39,40] |
Ginseng (Panax ginseng);
Araliaceae
Fenugreek (Trigonellafoenumgraecum L.) |
Roots and leaves. |
• Polysaccharides.
• Ginsenosides (steroidal saponins). |
• Slow absorption and digestion of carbohydrates.
• Affect NO mediated glucose transport. |
[41,42] |
| Momordicacymbalaria (Bitter Melon); Cucurbiteae |
Fruit pulp, seeds, leaves and whole plant. |
• Charantin (a peptide).
• Insulin-like polypeptide P (vegetable insulin). |
• Stimulate insulin secretion.
• Suppress the activity of gluconeogenic enzymes.
• Increase β-cells in diabetic rats. |
[43,44] |
Muurrayikomingii(Cury leaf); Rutaceae.
Aeglemarmelos Corr. (Rutaceae) |
Leaves. |
• Carbazole alkaloids.
• Copolin-α-glucose. |
• Stimulate insulin secretion.
• Increase glycogenesis and decrease glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. |
[11,12] |
| Ocimum sanctum (Holy basil); Lamiaceae |
Leaves. |
• Pectins. |
• Stimulate insulin secretion. |
[45] |
Allium
cepa,Allium sativum,Aloe vera, Cajanuscajan, Cocciniaindica, Caesalpiniabonducella, Ficus
bengalenesis, Gymnemasylvestre, Momordicacharantia, Ocimum sanctum, Pterocarpusmarsupium,
Swertiachirayita, Syzigiumcumini, Tinosporacordifolia and Trigonellafoenumgraecum |
Whole plant |
• Saponins and glycosides |
• Hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic activity.
• Stimulate insulin release from isolated pancreatic Islets. |
[3] |
| Polygala senega; Polygalaceae |
Rhizomes |
• Triterpenoid glycoside-Senegin-II
• saponins |
• Decrease hepatic glucose output.
• Increase insulin sensitivity. |
[18] |
| Pterocarpusmarsupium; Falcaceae |
Bark. |
• Epicatechin and catechin (tannins).
• Pterostibene (flavonoid), |
• Prevent beta cell damage in rats.
• Regenerate functional pancreatic β-cells.
• Enhance insulin secretion. |
[3] |
| Syzigiumcumini (Eugenia janbolaria); Mytaceae |
Seeds, leaves and fruit pulp. |
• Mycaminose. |
• Stimulate kinases involved in peripheral utilization of glucose. |
[46] |
| Trigonella foemum-graecum (Fenugreek); Falcaceae |
Seeds. |
• Alkaloids- trigoneline; nicotinic acid and coumarins.
• 4-hydroxy isoleucine.
• Galaclomannan. |
• Slow digestion and absorption of carbohydrates.
• Increase glucose-induced insulin secretion.
• Enhancement of peripheral insulin action. |
[47] |
