ABSTRACT:
Natural products play an important role in the management of diabetes mellitus especially in developing countries where resources are meager. This review presents the profiles of plants with hypoglycemic properties, reported in the literature from 1990 to 2000. The profiles presented include information about the Natural products, scientific name, Family, Methodology used, the degree of hypoglycemic activity and the active agents. The large number of natural products described (54 spp) clearly demonstrated the importance of natural products in the treatment of diabetes. The natural products discussed include: alkaloids (12 spp), flavonoids (13 spp), saponins (4 spp), glycosides (11 spp), terpenoides (4 spp), volatile oil (4 spp), tannins (2 spp), xanthones derivatives (2 spp), and others (2 spp). Many studies have confirmed the benefits of natural products with hypoglycemic effects in the management of diabetes mellitus. The effects of these products may delay the development of diabetic complications and correct the metabolic abnormalities. Moreover, during the past few years some of the new bioactive drugs isolated from hypoglycemic plants showed antidiabetic activity with more efficacy than oral hypoglycemic agents used in clinical therapy.