Selected species of antidiabetic plants and mushrooms and their use in treatment of diabetes mellitus
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease which is characterized by hyperglycemia. Currently it is one of the major health problems in the world and its incidence is increasing.
Hyperglycemia is caused either lowered or no insulin secretion or by peripheral tissues resistance to its effects. Uncompensated diabetes with inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health, such as retinopathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
Prediabetes is a stage which usually converts to diabetes mellitus, it's characterized by above normal blood glucose levels or having impaired glucose tolerance. In prediabetes and type-2 diabetes mellitus, phytotherapy can be used in combination with a standard therapy (diet, peroral antidiabetics and insulin).
There are many plants with antidiabetic effects and some of them were supported by clinical trials. This review presents four species of plants and mushrooms with antidiabetic effects: shaggy mane (Coprinus comatus), cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.), guduchi (Tinospora cordata), and ginger (Zingiber officinale).
They can be used as dietary supplements.