Chapter 42 - Antidiabetic and Hypoglycemic Effects of Syzygium cumini (Black Plum)

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder of the endocrine system, is one of the world's oldest diseases known to man. It is caused by inherited or acquired deficiency or inadequate secretion of hormone insulin (type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) or due to an inadequate response of target cells to insulin (type 2 or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus – NIDDM), or by a combination of these factors that ultimately culminates in hyperglycemia. The currently available therapeutic options, especially for NIDDM, such as oral hypoglycemics, and insulin, have limitations of their own. Before discovery of insulin and development of oral hypoglycemic drugs, the major form of treatment involved the use of plants. One such plant with immense use in the treatment of diabetes is Syzygium cumini (L.) SKEELS (syn. Syzygium jambolanum DC, Eugenia jambolana LAM.). It is commonly known as Indian black berry or black plum in English and Jamun in Hindi and has been an integral part in the treatment of diabetes in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda. Experimental studies performed in accordance with modern medicine principles have shown that Jamun is effective in preventing both hyperglycemia and its complications. This review collates the traditional uses and validated antidiabetic effects of Jamun and the various mechanisms contributing to the therapeutic effects. An attempt is also made to address the lacunae in these published studies and emphasize aspects that need further investigations for it to be of clinical use in the future.