An Overview of Treatment Challenges and the role of Herbal Antioxidants in Diabetes Mellitus

WHO predicts that the diabetes mellitus (DM), a global health crisis, currently affects almost 300 million people worldwide. India is host to the largest diabetes population in the world, with an estimated 35 million people, accounting approximately about 10% of the adult population. Synthetic oral hypoglycemics used in the treatment of Type 2 DM have been reported to possess prominent side effects and fail to manage DM complications. Such challenges forms the basis for better treatment regimens and finding alternative therapies. Traditionally, DM is treated with diet, physical exercise and herbal remedies. Herbal drugs can be quite acceptable as these are believed to cause less adverse effects, more effective and cost less. In this review, we have focused on comparison of conventional antidiabetics with some of the herbal extracts shown to have both antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. Since one of the etiologic factors implicated in the development of DM and its complications is the damage induced by free radicals and, hence an antidiabetic compound with an excellent antioxidant property would be more beneficial. Further, plenty of research needs to be carried out to evaluate the possible mechanism of action of such herbs.