An ethno-medicinal study of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes

Diabetes is the greatest public health problem and is considered as the silent
epidemic of the 21st century. In Iran, there are approximately 1.5 million diabetic patients.
Before the discovery of insulin, medicinal plants were widely used for the treatment of
diabetes in Iran.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the indigenous plants used for the treatment of
diabetes in Shiraz, southwest of Iran.
Materials and Methods: Semi-structured direct interviews were conducted with 25 herbalists
to identify medicinal plants used to treat diabetes. Questionnaires were included herbalist
personal information, plant local name, growth season, plant parts used, preparation
methods, and traditional therapies.
Results: The interview data indicated that, 24 medicinal plants from 19 families are used
for the treatment of diabetes in Shiraz. The families with most antidiabetic species were
Compositae (13%), Rosaceae (13%) and Cucurbitaceae (8%). The most frequently used plant
parts were fruits (38%) and the most common preparation method was decoction (62%).
For 45% of reported plants, pharmaceutical studies approved antidiabetic effects in animal
or humane model of diabetes. Results of this study showed that the plants recommended
by Shirazian herbalists have potential antidiabetic effects.
Conclusions: It is suggested that the ingredients of indigenous plants be studied to determine
therapeutic effects and mechanism of action. If they were safe and effective, they can be
refined and processed to produce natural drugs