ABSTRACT:
Diabetes mellitus is a major problem of today’s world and leading cause of death. Indians are genetically more susceptible to diabetes, for which world health organization predicts the number of diabetic persons in India may rise up to 74 million by 2025. The increasing worldwide incidence of diabetes mellitus in adults constitutes a global public health burden. It is predicted that by 2030, India, china and the United States will have largest number of people with diabetes. So the need arises to cure this disease with potent drug causing fewer side effects. The plant based medicinal system is very useful since a long time for treatment of diabetes. It is necessary to emphasize plant based study because allopathic system has more side effects; however they are potent antidiabetic agents. Many of the herbs are available having antidiabetic activity and shows their action by different mechanism like stimulating or regenerating the effect on Beta cell or extra pancreatic effect for hypoglycemic activity. The 60% of the patient uses traditional system of medicine in India for treatment of diabetes. Since ancient times, plants have been an exemplary source of medicine. Ayurveda and other Indian literature mention the use of plants in treatment of various human ailments. India has about 45000 plant species and among them, several thousands have been claimed to possess medicinal properties. Research conducted in last few decades on plants mentioned in ancient literature or used traditionally for diabetes has shown anti-diabetic property. The herbal drugs with antidiabetic activity are yet to be commercially formulated as modern medicines, even though they have been acclaimed for their therapeutic properties in the traditional systems of medicine.