Antiglycation Plants Naturally Used in India

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), formed through non-enzymatic reactions between reducing sugars and proteins, lipids, or nucleic acids, play a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and aging. The inhibition of glycation has therefore emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. In India, a rich tradition of Ayurvedic and ethnomedicinal practices has identified numerous plants with potent antiglycation activity, often attributed to their polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and terpenoids. Diabetes and its consequences have been treated using a number of natural products and active components. These phytochemicals act through multiple mechanisms, including reactive carbonyl species scavenging, metal ion chelation, antioxidant effects, and inhibition of protein cross-linking. Despite promising laboratory evidence, clinical studies validating their efficacy and safety remain limited. This review focuses on the plants or phytochemicals which have anti-glycation properties, which will help in the discovery of compounds that will lead to the creation of new anti-glycation medications.