Abstract
Simple SummaryTeucrium polium (also known as Golden Germander) is a herb brewed and drunk as a tea by the locals of the Mediterranean region, used mostly to treat a number of illnesses including diabetes. When consumed regularly, the tea can be problematic since some of its ingredients can be toxic or interfere with other medications taken by the patient. Current anti-diabetic medications are not always suitable nor optimal for all patients living with diabetes and therefore new drugs are constantly being sought after which may be more useful and/or present less side effects. Therefore, identifying the specific constituents that give the desired anti-diabetic effect, isolating them and developing them further may provide new useful anti-diabetic drugs. This paper discusses some key compounds found in Golden Germander that might be valuable for developing a new medication for type 2 diabetics whilst outlining some issues with the research conducted thus far.The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is rising globally and this disease is proposed to be the next pandemic after COVID-19. Although the cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus is unknown, it is believed to involve a complex array of genetic defects that affect metabolic pathways which eventually lead to hyperglycaemia. This hyperglycaemia arises from an inability of the insulin-sensitive cells to sufficiently respond to the secreted insulin, which eventually results in the inadequate secretion of insulin from pancreatic β-cells. Several treatments, utilising a variety of mechanisms, are available for type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, more medications are needed to assist with the optimal management of the different stages of the disease in patients of varying ages with the diverse combinations of other medications co-administered. Throughout modern history, some lead constituents from ancient medicinal plants have been investigated extensively and helped in developing synthetic antidiabetic drugs, such as metformin. Teucrium polium L. (Tp) is a herb that has a folk reputation for its antidiabetic potential. Previous studies indicate that Tp extracts significantly decrease blood glucose levels r and induce insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells in vitro. Nonetheless, the constituent/s responsible for this action have not yet been elucidated. The effects appear to be, at least in part, attributable to the presence of selected flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin, and rutin). This review aims to examine the reported glucose-lowering effect of the herb, with a keen focus on insulin secretion, specifically related to type 2 diabetes mellitus. An analysis of the contribution of the key constituent flavonoids of Tp extracts will also be discussed.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is defined as a chronic and multifunctional metabolic disorder characterised by hyperglycaemia, resulting from impaired insulin secretion, insulin action or both
The two main types of DM are (i) type 1, which mainly results from autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic β-cells leading to a lack of insulin secretion and (ii) type 2, the most prevalent, that encompasses a combination of reduced responsiveness by insulin-sensitive cells and defects in insulin secretion [1,2]
Aside from the life-threatening risks associated with COVID-19, 6.7 million deaths are directly attributed to DM or its complications in 2021, with 541 million adults having impaired glucose tolerance [3,9]
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is defined as a chronic and multifunctional metabolic disorder characterised by hyperglycaemia, resulting from impaired insulin secretion, insulin action or both. The latest report from the World Health Organisation states that by 2030, this metabolic pandemic will become the 7th main cause of worldwide mortality as the prevalence is estimated to encompass more than 400 million sufferers [10,11]. This number has since risen in post-COVID estimates to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045 [3]. It is estimated that the cost for DM worldwide was USD $850 billion in 2017, and reached USD $966 billion in 2021 [3]
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