Biotechnologically Engineered Transgenic Medicinal Plants: Exploration of Antidiabetic Properties

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) arises due to impaired insulin secretion or activity and hence can be categorized as a complex metabolic disorder of numerous etiologies. If not well managed, it can lead to serious health consequences due to disturbances in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. From ancient times, it is known that medicinal plants have certain biologically active substances that exhibit antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, and other such properties. This therapeutic potential of medicinal plants arises from its secondary metabolites, which play an important role in planning of drug development approach towards treatment. A number of techniques can be utilized to increase the production of these bioactive compounds. Biotechnology-based transgenic approaches are one of the recently used methods to enhance the in vitro production of such compounds. For successful transformation of plants, the following parameters need to be taken into consideration viz. gene constructs, vectors, transformation technique and integration of the transgene. 280There can be two types of gene transfer approach in plants: Agrobacterium tumefacians Ti plasmid vector-mediated gene transfer and direct gene transfer. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. For the screening of these products, there are two types of studies: in vitro studies which typically include antidiabetic assays and in vivo studies which include diabetes induced animal models. The studies conducted provide information on the antidiabetic properties of these transgenic plants, such as the increase in sensitivity towards insulin, effect on beta-pancreatic cells, insulin-like effects and inhibitors of enzymes facilitating hyperglycemia in the body. Further metabolite profiling can be used to understand which specific components in these medicinal plants contribute to the antidiabetic property. Identifying these specific active components can help in providing an optimal and more efficient medicinal preparation. Biotechnology-based transgenic approaches were found to be safe and effective for secondary metabolite production and can be used for therapeutic purposes.