ABSTRACT
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder with no definite treatment, but it can be controlled by changing lifestyle and diet. Consumption of high-fiber and nutrient-rich foods including vegetables have been shown to reduce risks of obesity and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Also, many herbal plants have been associated with reduced risks of T2DM because of their composition of secondary metabolites. Antioxidant activities of some secondary metabolites have potent inhibitory effects against inflammation linked with insulin resistance and oxidative stress. More than 800 known medicinal plants are used to control diabetes and its relevant complications. However, variations in preharvest factors including plant genotype, growing medium properties, climatic factors, and management practices can influence plant growth and their accumulation of phytochemicals with health-promoting properties. However, the effects of these preharvest factors on the antidiabetic properties of plant secondary metabolites are neither explicit nor easily accessible in the literature. Therefore, this review aims to document recent studies that reported on under-exploited medicinal plants with antidiabetic properties. We reviewed several important preharvest factors that can potentially affect the synthesis of phytoconstituents which possess antidiabetic properties. This review will help identify gaps for future research in phytomedicine and functional foods.
O diabetes é um distúrbio metabólico sem tratamento definido, todavia pode ser controlado a partir de mudanças no estilo de vida e na alimentação. O consumo de alimentos ricos em fibras e nutrientes, incluindo vegetais, demonstrou reduzir os riscos de obesidade e Diabetes Mellitus tipo II (DM2). Além disso, muitas plantas herbáceas têm sido associadas a riscos reduzidos de DM2 devido à sua composição de metabólitos secundários. As atividades antioxidantes de alguns metabólitos secundários têm efeitos potentes de inibição contra inflamações associadas à resistência à insulina e ao estresse oxidativo. Existem mais de 800 plantas medicinais conhecidas utilizadas no controle do diabetes e suas complicações. No entanto, variações nos fatores de pré-colheita, incluindo genótipo da planta, propriedades do meio de cultivo, fatores climáticos e práticas de manejo, podem influenciar em seu desenvolvimento e seu acúmulo de fotoquímicos com propriedades promotoras. Apesar disso, os efeitos desses fatores de pré-colheita nas propriedades antidiabéticas de metabólitos secundários de plantas não são explícitos nem facilmente acessáveis na literatura. Portanto, esta revisão tem como objetivo documentar estudos recentes que relataram plantas medicinais subexploradas com propriedades antidiabéticas. Revisamos diversos fatores pré-colheita importantes que podem afetar potencialmente a síntese de fitoconstituintes que possuem propriedades antidiabéticas. Assim, esta revisão auxiliará na identificação de lacunas para pesquisas futuras em fitomedicina e alimentos funcionais.
Subject(s)
Plants, Medicinal , Herbal Medicine , Diabetes Mellitus/prevention & control , Hypoglycemic AgentsABSTRACT
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder with no definite treatment, but it can be controlled by changing lifestyle and diet. Consumption of high-fiber and nutrient-rich foods including vegetables have been shown to reduce risks of obesity and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Also, many herbal plants have been associated with reduced risks of T2DM because of their composition of secondary metabolites. Antioxidant activities of some secondary metabolites have potent inhibitory effects against inflammation linked with insulin resistance and oxidative stress. More than 800 known medicinal plants are used to control diabetes and its relevant complications. However, variations in preharvest factors including plant genotype, growing medium properties, climatic factors, and management practices can influence plant growth and their accumulation of phytochemicals with health-promoting properties. However, the effects of these preharvest factors on the antidiabetic properties of plant secondary metabolites are neither explicit nor easily accessible in the literature. Therefore, this review aims to document recent studies that reported on under-exploited medicinal plants with antidiabetic properties. We reviewed several important preharvest factors that can potentially affect the synthesis of phytoconstituents which possess antidiabetic properties. This review will help identify gaps for future research in phytomedicine and functional foods.