Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants for Diabetes and Hypertension

Ethnopharmacology investigates the traditional use of plants to prevent and treat disease, combining cultural knowledge with phytochemical and pharmacological analysis. Diabetes and hypertension impose a heavy global burden, driving interest in plant‐derived therapies that may offer complementary or alternative options to conventional drugs. Many medicinal species contain bioactive compounds—flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and polyphenols—that exert antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, insulinotropic or vasodilatory effects. Traditional preparations such as decoctions, infusions and macerations are employed across diverse regions, with selection guided by local informant consensus and fidelity levels. Modern approaches seek to standardise extracts, elucidate mechanisms of action, assess safety and integrate ethnomedical leads into drug development pipelines. Advances in analytical chemistry and in vivo models have confirmed the capacity of certain plants to modulate glucose homeostasis and vascular tone, while also highlighting the need for rigorous toxicological evaluation. The global relevance of this research lies in its potential to broaden therapeutic choices, support culturally appropriate healthcare and foster sustainable use of botanical resources.

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Ethnopharmacology of Medicinal Plants for Diabetes and Hypertension publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ethnopharmacology of medicinal plants for diabetes and hypertension across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ethnopharmacology: The interdisciplinary study of traditional medicinal substances derived from plants, animals or minerals within specific cultural contexts.

Bioactive constituents: Chemical compounds in plants that interact with biological systems to produce therapeutic effects, such as flavonoids or alkaloids.

Informant Consensus Factor (ICF): A semi‐quantitative measure of agreement among traditional healers or informants regarding the use of particular plants for specific ailments.

Decoction: A preparation method involving boiling plant materials in water to extract water‐soluble compounds, commonly used in traditional remedies.

Glycaemic homeostasis: The maintenance of stable blood glucose levels through physiological and pharmacological mechanisms, critical in diabetes management.

References

1. Medicinal plants used for treatment of diabetes by the marakh sect of the Garo tribe living in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. African Journal of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicines (2012).
2. Underestimating the Toxicological Challenges Associated with the Use of Herbal Medicinal Products in Developing Countries. BioMed Research International (2013).
3. From the Field into the Lab: Useful Approaches to Selecting Species Based on Local Knowledge. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2011).