MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The disease affects millions of people worldwide and is associated with severe complications such as cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. In recent years, medicinal plants have gained increasing attention as complementary therapies for diabetes management due to their natural origin and potential hypoglycemic effects. This article reviews commonly used medicinal plants in diabetes treatment, their mechanisms of action, and their therapeutic potential.