Review Article

Antioxidant Effects and Mechanisms of Medicinal Plants and Their Bioactive Compounds for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: An Updated Review

Table 1

Plant extracts that elicited their antidiabetic potential using both alloxan and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

NumberPlant namePlant part usedExtract usedMechanism of actionExperiment modelReferences

1Acacia arabicaBarkChloroformCut down the level of serum glucose and ameliorate total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levelsAlloxan-induced diabetic albino rats[307]
Cut down levels of serum glucose, TC, TG, LDL, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and also boost HDL and coenzyme Q10Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[308]

2Acacia niloticaPodsAlcoholicAids in depleting levels of blood glucose
Boosts antioxidant enzyme system (SOD and GSH), NO level, and LPO of the kidney
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[309]

3Achyranthes rubrofuscaLeavesAqueous and ethanolicReduction in levels of blood glucose and also aids in boosting levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione levelsAlloxan-induced diabetic albino rats[310]

4Albizzia lebbeck BenthStem barkMethanol and dichloromethaneCutting down levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin and ameliorating plasma insulin. Furthermore, it caused significant diminution in levels of TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL while causing an upsurge in the level of HDL.Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[311]
StemMethanolicReducing levels of serum glucose, creatinine, urea, TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL and on the other hand boosting HDL levelStreptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats[312]

5Aloe veraLeavesAqueousCutting down the levels of blood glucose, TG, LDL, and TCStreptozotocin-induced diabetic mice[313]
Ameliorating insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell function, i.e., boosting pancreatic islet massStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[314]
Ameliorating glucose metabolism by way of cutting down the level of blood glucoseAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[315]

6Artemisia afraLeavesAqueousRejuvenate pancreatic beta cells
Inspire insulin release and ameliorate oxidative stress in the pancreas
Boost glucose utilization
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[316]

7Barleria prionitisLeaves and rootAlcoholicCutting down levels of blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin
Boosting levels of serum insulin and liver glycogen
Alloxan-induced diabetic rats[317]

8Boerhaavia diffusaLeavesAqueousStimulates glucose utilization and bolsters ionic balance, renal Na+-K+ ATPase activity, and renal antioxidant status (GPx, catalase, SOD, and GSH)Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[318]
Upsurge in levels of hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphataseAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[319]

9Bougainvillea spectabilisRoots and barksAqueous and methanolicImprove the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and hepatic, skeletal muscle glycogenStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[320]
3-O-methyl-chiroinositol, a bioactive compound isolated from B. spectabilisRejuvenate pancreatic beta cells, thus causing a rise in plasma insulin and c-peptide
Employ insulin-like effects
Streptozotocin- and alloxan-induced diabetic rats[321].

10Byrsonima crassifoliaFruits and seedsHexane and chloroformUpsurge in levels of CAT, GSH, GSSG, and SOD
Boosting activities of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), hepatic glycogen content, and plasma insulin and cutting down blood glucose level
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[322]

11Caesalpinia ferreaStem barkAqueousCutting down the level of blood glucose, TC, and TGStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[323]

12Casearia esculentaRootAqueousRejuvenation in levels of glucose, urea, uric acid, creatinine, and albumin; the albumin/globulin ratio; and marker enzymes AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT)Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[324]
13Cassia fistulaStem barkAlcoholicCutting down the level of blood glucose and also rejuvenating the levels of serum cholesterol, TG, creatinine, albumin, total proteins, and body weightAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[325]

14Catharanthus roseusLeaves and twigsDichloromethane-methanolCut down levels of blood glucose and hepatic enzyme activities such as glycogen synthase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenaseStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[326]

15Ceriops decandraLeavesEthanolAdjusting levels of blood glucose, hemoglobin, liver glycogen, and some carbohydrate metabolic enzymes in comparison with the control groupNormal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats[327]

16Cinnamomum zeylanicumHydroalcoholWhole plant (cinnamon polyphenols)Diminish the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) and also rejuvenate pancreatic beta cellsStreptozotocin-induced diabetes[255]

17Cistus laurifoliusLeavesEthanol
Three known flavonoids (quercetin-3-O-methyl ether, quercetin, and genkwanin)
Cut down the level of blood glucose level and inhibit activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidaseStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[328]

18Citrullus colocynthisRootsAqueous, chloroform, and ethanolCut down the levels of blood glucose in comparison with the control groupNormal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats[329]

19Combretum lanceolatumFlowersEthanolActivation of AMPK in the liver and also inhibiting hepatic glucose productionStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[330]

20Emblica officinalisFruits, leavesHydromethanol(1) Boost high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level and diminish low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level
(2) Upsurge in the levels of GSH, GPx, SOD, and CAT
(3) Boost activities of hepatic and renal SOD and CAT
(4) Cut down the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[331]

21Gynura procumbensLeavesAqueousEnhancement of glucose uptake in the musclesStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[332]

22Helicteres isoraRootsButanol and aqueous ethanolCut down levels of blood glucose, TC, TG, and urea levelsAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[333]

23Hiptage benghalensisLeavesMethanolicRejuvenation of pancreatic beta cells and improvement of insulin secretion, thus bringing about a reduction in the level of blood glucoseAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[334]

24Hyptis suaveolensLeaves50% aqueous ethanolInduction of glucose utilizationStreptozotocin-induced rats[335]

25Kigelia pinnataFlowersMethanolCuts down levels of blood glucose, serum cholesterol, and triglyceridesStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[336]

26Momordica charantiaSeedsMethanolCutting down levels of serum glucose, insulin, TNF-α, and interleukin 6 (IL-6)Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat[337]

27Murraya koenigiiLeavesAqueousCuts down level of blood glucoseAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[338]

28Parquetina nigrescensLeavesAqueousCuts down level of blood glucose via boosting the level insulin and reducing lipogenesisAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[339]

29Phoenix dactyliferaLeaves70% ethanolCuts down levels of blood glucose, TC, and TG levels and also causes an upsurge in the level of insulin when compared with the control groupAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[340]

30Phyllanthus niruriAerial partsMethanolCuts down levels of blood glucose, TC, and TG levelsAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[341]

31Pongamia pinnataLeavesPetroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, and waterReduction in the level of blood glucose levelStreptozotocin- and alloxan-induced diabetic rats[342, 343]

32Psidium guajavaFruitsAqueousCuts down the levels of blood glucose and lipid profile
Rejuvenate pancreatic β-cells, thus boosting insulin secretion
Suppresses pancreatic nuclear factor kappa B expression
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat[344]

33Sida cordifoliaAerial partsMethanol and aqueousCut down levels of serum glucose level, insulin, and cholesterolStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[345]

33Sphaeranthus indicusRoots and stolonsEthanolCut down levels of blood glucose and boost levels of hepatic glycogen and plasma insulinStreptozotocin-nicotinamide diabetic rats[346]

34Terminalia bellericaFruitsMethanolEnhance insulin secretion via modulating levels of cAMP and intracellular calcium in the pancreatic β-cellsStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[347]

35Terminalia chebulaSeedsChloroformCuts down levels of blood glucoseStreptozotocin-induced diabetic rats[348]

36Trigonella foenum-graecumSeedsEthanolCuts down levels of blood glucoseAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[349]

37Zaleya decandraRootsEthanolCuts down levels of blood glucose, TC, TG, total proteins, urea, creatinine, and lipid peroxidationAlloxan-induced diabetic rats[350]