ABSTRACT
The number of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), which is one of the most common problems challenging physicians in 21st century, has increased rapidly worldwide. The current treatments of type 2 DM include mainly oral anti-diabetic drugs, which have serious side effects. Therefore, the search for alternative, safer, and more effective treatments for DM has been extended to natural plant-based remedies, which cause fewer adverse effects compared to modern synthetic drugs. The fruits of Balanitis aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca), belonging to Zygophyllaceae, is used traditionally in Egyptian folkloric medicine as an oral anti-diabetic treatment. The extracts of various parts of B. aegyptiaca fruits, including the epicarp, mesocarp, and seed kernel, have been applied as treatments. B. aegyptiaca exerts antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and insulinotropic actions associated with the reduction in oxidative stress, enhancement in the antioxidant defense system, and reduced apoptosis in pancreatic β cells. The treatment effects may be due to presence of saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids. In conclusion, the present review provides a scientific evidence for the probable use of B. aegyptiaca fruit and seed extracts as anti-diabetic agents in DM.
