Abstract

Tushar Jadhav*, Dr. G V Bihani and Dr. K R Biyani

ABSTRACT

Diabetes is an important human ailment afflicting many from various walks of life in different countries. In India it is proving to be a major health problem, especially in the urban areas. Traditional Medicines derived from medicinal plants are used by about 60% of the world’s population. These include, Allium sativum, Eugenia jambolana, Momordica charantia Ocimum sanctum, Phyllanthus amarus, Pterocarpus marsupium, Tinospora cordifolia, Trigonella foenum graecum and Withania somnifera. However, the selection of herbs might depend on several factors, which include the stage of progression of diabetes, types of co morbidities that the patients are having, availability, affordability as well as the safety profile of the herbs. India is the largest producer of medicinal herbs and is called as botanical garden of the world. The current review focuses on herbal drug preparations and plants used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, a major crippling disease in the world leading to huge economic losses.