Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is cited as a serious worldwide health problem that occupies second place in causes of annual mortality in Mexico. Among Mexican flora, nearly 300 plant species have been employed as hypoglycemic in popular use. Thus, their study entertains great relevance In this context, this work contributes a clear and timely review of the plant species utilized in Traditional Mexican Medicine and experimental biological models in which not only have the hypoglycemic properties of the extracts and the isolated compounds been considered, but also the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, taking into account an integral focus based on the complex mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis and physiopathology of DM. Among the species reviewed, we highlight Psacalium decompositum (Asteraceae), due to the potent hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity of the sesquiterpenes identified as majority compounds isolated from the root, such as cacalol and cacalone that also possess the capacity of increasing insulin levels. In this manner, the present manuscript attempts to contribute necessary information for the future study of bioactive molecules that are useful in the treatment of DM, as well as also being a contribution to the knowledge and diffusion of Mexican Traditional Medicine.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been described as a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia caused by impaired insulin secretion or impaired insulin action or both [1,2]
Among Mexican plants whose hypoglycemic effect has been demonstrated in different animal models, but whose active ingredients have not been isolated or characterized, we find the following: Euphorbia prostate [17], Cuminum nigrum [18], Verbesina persicifolia, Psacalium decompositum [19], and Agrimonia eupatoria [20]
Given that P. decompositum forms part of a complex of plants denominated Matarique and that are traditionally utilized in Mexico for treating DM, it is interesting that another species belonging to such a complex, and of the same genus, P. peltatum, and from which an aqueous fraction was obtained with fructane content, has demonstrated an hypoglycemic effect and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice [162] (Table 4)
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been described as a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia caused by impaired insulin secretion or impaired insulin action or both [1,2]. The cost of care for diabetes is estimated as above USD 7.7 billion annually, of which approximately USD 4 billion were supplied by the Mexican Ministry of Health (SSA), which cares for the uninsured population; USD 1.2 billion corresponded to the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) and to the Mexican Institute of Social Security for Services to State Workers (ISSSTE), which provide care for the insured population, while USD 1.8 billion were financed out-of-pocket by the patients themselves and USD 100 million by private health services These numbers take into account direct costs (medical diagnostic consultations, medicines, hospitalization, retinopathies, cardiovascular diseases, nephropathies, and neuropathies) as indirect expenses (mortality, and temporary or permanent disability) calculated annually [5]. Among the alternatives for the development of novel medicines that are useful in the treatment of DM, plants are considered an important option, due to their active ingredients that can be isolated, and because of the acceptance of persons concerning the use of plants to treat diseases that, according to data reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), reveal that between 70% and 95% of persons utilize traditional medicines for primary care throughout the world [7], situating the investigation of plants for the treatment of diabetes as an attractive, immediate, and necessary activity-to-develop
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