Development Optimization and Evaluation of a Polyherbal Formulation for Anti diabetic Activity

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a severe metabolic disorder which is indicated by hyperglycemia due to lack of insulin or the action of insulin on its target tissues or both. Insulin deficiency, in turn, leads to chronic hyperglycemia with disturbance of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. As the disease progresses, tissue and vascular damage ensues leading to severe diabetic complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular complications and ulceration. Thus, diabetes covers a wide range of heterogeneous diseases. The chronic metabolic disorder which affects about 150 million people of the world is going to increase to 300 million by the year 2025. The countries with the largest number of diabetic people in the year 2025 will be India, China and United States. newlineMost common type of diabetes is type 2 diabetes which is due to decreased insulin effectiveness or insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes carries a high risk of large vessel atherosclerosis commonly associated with hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity. Most patients with type 2 diabetes die from cardiovascular complications and renal disease. newlineThe synthetic oral anti-diabetic drugs and insulin which are being currently used for the control of diabetic complications are effective in controlling the elevated blood glucose levels but they have various side effects and do not control the complications related to diabetes. newlineTraditional medicinal plants are being used worldwide for many diabetic complications. Herbal drugs are considered to be safe and do not have much side effects compared to synthetic drugs. Therefore, exploring the hypoglycemic potential of medicinal plants has become very important to provide mankind with safer alternative of herbal drugs. newlineThe aim of the present study was to design such a polyherbal formulation which has potent anti-diabetic activity with reference to type 2 diabetes and is also able to control other diabetic complications like hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress. newlineAfter extensive literature review, five me