Botanical Interventions for Glycemic Control
Summary
Botanical interventions represent a growing frontier in the management of blood glucose levels in individuals with impaired glucose homeostasis, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. Plant-derived extracts and isolated phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, terpenoids and polyphenols, have been shown to modulate key pathways in carbohydrate metabolism, enhance insulin secretion, improve insulin sensitivity and attenuate oxidative stress in pancreatic β-cells. Traditional medicinal plants, including species of Artemisia, Momordica charantia and Tithonia diversifolia, have formed the basis for preclinical investigations that explore molecular mechanisms underlying glycaemic regulation. Bioactive compounds can influence hepatic gluconeogenesis, skeletal muscle glucose uptake and adipocyte insulin signalling via modulation of pathways such as PI3K/Akt and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The appeal of botanical products also lies in their potential cost-effectiveness and cultural acceptance in regions where access to synthetic drugs is limited. However, variability in extract standardisation, dosing regimens and long-term safety profiles remains a challenge to clinical translation. Ongoing research seeks to validate efficacy in human populations, optimise formulation and elucidate pharmacokinetics to support integration into conventional therapeutic strategies.
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Botanical Interventions for Glycemic Control publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in botanical interventions for glycemic control across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Glycaemic control: The regulation of blood glucose concentration within a desired range.
Phytochemicals: Bioactive chemical compounds produced by plants that can modulate physiological processes.
Insulin resistance: A state in which cells fail to respond adequately to insulin, impairing glucose uptake.
Streptozotocin: A naturally occurring compound used experimentally to induce diabetes by β-cell cytotoxicity.
Gluconeogenesis: The metabolic pathway generating glucose from non-carbohydrate substrates, primarily in the liver.
PEPCK and G6Pase: Key enzymes in hepatic gluconeogenesis; their expression affects glucose production.
PPAR-α: A nuclear receptor regulating lipid metabolism and influencing insulin sensitivity.
Nrf2: A transcription factor that orchestrates cellular antioxidant defence mechanisms.
References
- Vulgarin, a Sesquiterpene Lactone from Artemisia judaica, Improves the Antidiabetic Effectiveness of Glibenclamide in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats via Modulation of PEPCK and G6Pase Genes Expression. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2022).
- Possible Synergistic Antidiabetic Effects of Quantified Artemisia judaica Extract and Glyburide in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats via Restoration of PPAR-α mRNA Expression. Biology (2021).
- Effectiveness of Jena DM® Herbal Formulation as Complementary Therapy to Conventional Oral Hypoglycemic Agents in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Quasi-experimental Study. Cureus (2024).
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