Bhattacharya Soham, Gupta Neha, Flekalová Adéla, Gordillo-Alarcón Salomé, Espinel-Jara Viviana, Fernández-Cusimamani Eloy
Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 16500 Suchdol, Czech Republic.
Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 16500 Suchdol, Czech Republic.
Plants (Basel). 2024 May 22;13(11):1436. doi: 10.3390/plants13111436.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health concern characterized by a deficiency in insulin production. Considering the systemic toxicity and limited efficacy associated with current antidiabetic medications, there is the utmost need for natural, plant-based alternatives. Herbal medicines have experienced exponential growth in popularity globally in recent years for their natural origins and minimal side effects. Ecuador has a rich cultural history in ethnobotany that plays a crucial role in its people's lives. This study identifies 27 Ecuadorian medicinal plants that are traditionally used for diabetes treatment and are prepared through infusion, decoction, or juice, or are ingested in their raw forms. Among them, 22 plants have demonstrated hypoglycemic or anti-hyperglycemic properties that are rich with bioactive phytochemicals, which was confirmed in several in vitro and in vivo studies. However, , , , , and , which were extensively used in traditional medicine preparation in Ecuador for many decades to treat diabetes, are lacking in pharmacological elucidation. The Ecuadorian medicinal plants used to treat diabetes have been found to have several bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolics, fatty acids, aldehydes, and terpenoids that are mainly responsible for reducing blood sugar levels and oxidative stress, regulating intestinal function, improving insulin resistance, inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase, lowering gluconeogenic enzymes, stimulating glucose uptake mechanisms, and playing an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism. However, there is a substantial lack of integrated approaches between the existing ethnomedicinal practices and pharmacological research. Therefore, this review aims to discuss and explore the traditional medicinal plants used in Ecuador for treating DM and their bioactive phytochemicals, which are mainly responsible for their antidiabetic properties. We believe that the use of Ecuadorian herbal medicine in a scientifically sound way can substantially benefit the local economy and industries seeking natural products.
糖尿病（DM）是一种全球关注的健康问题，其特征是胰岛素分泌不足。鉴于目前抗糖尿病药物存在全身毒性且疗效有限，因此迫切需要天然的、基于植物的替代药物。近年来，草药因其天然来源和最小的副作用而在全球范围内广受欢迎，呈指数级增长。厄瓜多尔在民族植物学方面有着丰富的文化历史，这在其人民的生活中起着至关重要的作用。本研究确定了27种厄瓜多尔药用植物，这些植物传统上用于治疗糖尿病，通过冲泡、煎煮、榨汁或直接生食的方式使用。其中，22种植物已证明具有降血糖或抗高血糖特性，富含生物活性植物化学物质，这在多项体外和体内研究中得到了证实。然而，有几种植物在厄瓜多尔传统药物制备中被广泛用于治疗糖尿病数十年，但缺乏药理学阐释。已发现用于治疗糖尿病的厄瓜多尔药用植物含有多种生物活性化合物，如黄酮类、酚类、脂肪酸、醛类和萜类，这些化合物主要负责降低血糖水平和氧化应激、调节肠道功能、改善胰岛素抵抗、抑制α-淀粉酶和α-葡萄糖苷酶、降低糖异生酶、刺激葡萄糖摄取机制，并在葡萄糖和脂质代谢中发挥重要作用。然而，现有的民族医学实践与药理学研究之间严重缺乏综合方法。因此，本综述旨在讨论和探索厄瓜多尔用于治疗糖尿病的传统药用植物及其生物活性植物化学物质，这些物质主要负责其抗糖尿病特性。我们相信，以科学合理的方式使用厄瓜多尔草药可以极大地造福当地经济以及寻求天然产品的产业。
