Diabetes and its Management from Medicinal Plants: A Comprehensive Review of Phytotherapeutic Approaches

Diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, poses a significant global health challenge. While conventional pharmacotherapy effectively manages blood glucose levels, limitations such as side effects, cost, and patient adherence necessitate the exploration of alternative and complementary approaches. Medicinal plants, used for centuries in traditional medicine systems, offer a promising avenue due to their diverse phytochemical profiles and perceived lower toxicity. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the role of medicinal plants in diabetes management, examining their proposed mechanisms of action, highlighting key antidiabetic plant species, and discussing the challenges and future perspectives in integrating phytotherapy into conventional diabetic care. Focus is placed on plants that modulate insulin secretion, enhance insulin sensitivity, inhibit carbohydrate digestion, exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and protect pancreatic beta-cells.