NATURAL HERBAL AGENTS IN THE REGULATION OF BLOOD GLUCOSE: SCREENING ASSAYS AND THEIR DIVERSE PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS

Historically, symptoms that are today recognized as diabetes mellitus were treated with herbal remedies in various cultures. Determining the effectiveness, mechanisms, and safety of botanicals and their active ingredients in glycemic control has rekindled scholarly interest due to the rise in complementary and alternative medicines as well as the advancements in phytochemistry, pharmacology, and screening technologies. The current evidence on commonly studied antidiabetic herbs, the physiological and molecular pathways they control, the in vitro and in vivo testing used to screen and profile antidiabetic effects, and the difficulties in translating botanical drug candidates to the clinic are all summarised in this review. The primary focus is on agents with the best preclinical and clinical signals (such as Momordica charantia, Trigonella foenum-graecum, berberine-containing species, Gymnema sylvestre, Moringa oleifera, and Cinnamomum verum), assay cascade projects that combine cell-based, animal, in silico, and biochemical approaches, and practical considerations of standardisation, safety, and herb-drug interactions. The article concludes with clinical research priorities, quality and patient safety measures, and best practices for screening pipelines.