ABSTRACT
Ethnopharmacology relies on pharmacology, botany, chemistry, biochemistry, history anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics that contribute to and accumulate traditional knowledge for the discovery and use of natural products with biological activity. This chapter describes various wild plants, from various regions of the world used in the treatment of diabetes. These wild or native plants are Artemisia herba alba, Brassica juncea, Catharanthus roseus, Citrullus colocynthis L., Eugenia jambolana Lam, Momordica charantia, Moringa oleifera, Nigella sativa Rosmarinus officinalis and Trigonella foenum-graecum. Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that can affect children and adults. Glucose metabolism enzymes, receptors, signaling pathways, or pancreas beta cells are their therapeutic targets; however, despite its effectiveness, these medications can cause serious side effects. The chapter provides knowledge of six medicinal plants used in diabetes treatment; it includes some active compounds from them and shows how these affect antioxidant enzymes, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, glycogenesis, insulin release and restoration of beta pancreas cells.
