Medicinal Plants Classification Biosynthesis and ... - Index of

170
Vandana Gulati, Ian H. Harding and Enzo A. Palombo
Available Therapies Side Effects
Food in Mouth
Acarbose, Voglibose,
Plant inhibitors and
Polyphenolic rich diet
Sulfonylurea, metformin
and Glinides
Food in
Gastrointestinal
tract
Starch breaks down to
simple sugar
Simple sugar
Glucose level in
blood rises
Release of Insulin
Glucose
transported to other organs
Storage of glucose in
tissues
Flatulence and
Abdominal distension
Inhibition of pancreatic amylase and
alpha-glucosidase
Hypoglycemia and
weight gain
Stimulation of insulin release
Figure 1. Digestion of food and mechanisms of currently available therapies, and their side effects, for
diabetes.
Insulin is the oldest among the currently available medications. Initially developed
to treat Type I diabetic patients for whom it is life saving. Insulin is the most
effective of the diabetes medications in lowering glycemia. Insulin therapy has
beneficial effects on triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels but is also associated
with weight gain (6).
It is clearly seen that enzyme inhibitors such as diet, vegetables, and fruits rich in
polyphenolic compounds have bearable side effects as compared to other oral hypoglycemic
agents.
Although, oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin play important roles in the treatment of
diabetes by controlling hyperglycemia, these have serious side effects which may cause other
diabetic complications and most of the medicines available in the market are associated with
the adverse consequences of hypoglycemia or weight gain (7). Thus, treatment of diabetes
without any side effects is still a challenge (8). When selecting an appropriate therapy for
Type II diabetes, then, factors such as other co-existing medical conditions (high blood