Plants with antidiabetic potential: A comprehensive review of ethnomedicinal plants used by tribal tommunities of Madhya Pradesh (Central India) for diabetes management

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus constitutes a significant global health issue, with the rate rising, especially in rural and resource-constrained regions where access to conventional treatment is challenging. In these conditions, traditional medical systems are crucial in disease management. This review article examines and analyzes the ethnomedicinal-based practices related to antidiabetic therapy among indigenous peoples of Madhya Pradesh, India.

Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted utilizing various scientific resources, including “Google Scholar,” “ScienceDirect,” “PubMed,” and “Scopus.” Keywords used to identify relevant studies were “ethnomedicinal plants,” “diabetes,” “Madhya Pradesh,” and “antidiabetic.” Studies were screened based on established inclusion criteria that included detailed ethnomedicinal usage information.

Results: An aggregate of 85 belonging to 78 genera and 45 distinct families were recorded, featuring Fabaceae as the predominant family. Trees and herbs were the most frequently represented growth forms and leaves, roots and bark were primarily utilized plant components. The primary modes of preparation were powder and decoction. The study additionally provides detailed information about the mode of use, such as dosage, frequency of administration and duration of treatment and explores the relationships between plant habit, plant parts, and preparation methods, revealing consistent ethnomedicinal patterns across the studies.

Conclusions: The findings highlight the diversity and uniformity of traditional antidiabetic knowledge systems in the state of Madhya Pradesh and their importance for affordable health care resources. The structured documentation of usage practices offers a foundation for forthcoming pharmacological validation and emphasizes the necessity of standardization, experimental evaluation, and the conservation of medicinal plant resources.

Keywords: Antidiabetic plants, Diabetes mellitus, Ethnomedicinal Plant, Madhya Pradesh, Traditional medicine