A Review of The Antidiabetic Properties of The Medicine Plants Found in the Sikkim Himalayas

In the twenty first century, Diabetes has become one the most challenging worldwide diseases. Approximately 62 million patients suffer with diabetes in India. The most significant absolute figure among all countries¹. It is approximated that there will be a surge in the disease among the Indian middle class with modern shift of lack of physical activities and the food habits and nutrition. The figure that is reckon is 101.2 million by the year 2030². Traditionally, if we talk about India, there is well developed system of Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha which is fundamentally rest on the idea of plant derived drug which is stupendous. The natural plant-based employment of medicine is found all over the world from ancient time which developed in the regulated framework over time and space. There are many defects in this system, having the rudimentary knowledge however, these are crucial depository of human knowledge which propel the advancement of the knowledge in medicine³. In the present time we have various effective western knowledge of medication for the treatment of diabetes but excessive cost with side effect is a formidable hurdle for its management. The utilization of ayurvedic medicine for the effective treatment of diabetes has been in the practice since thousands of years in the Indian and chines culture and tradition.  According to the recent data of WHO it is estimated that approximately 90% of the developing population are using the plant-based product in their traditional medicine practice. The list of plant given by WHO with the estimation of 21,000, it is recorded that around 2500 species are found in the Indian subcontinent. It is documented that 800 plants depict antidiabetic capacity⁴.

Sikkim is a one of the smallest states of India with total geographical area of 7096 square kilometres, which is located at Eastern Himalayans Region of India containing reach flora and fauna diversity. States that share borders with China-North, Nepal- West, Bhutan-East, West Bengal – south state⁵.

According to the Biodiversity Board, Government of Sikkim, there are 424 medicinal plants documented and utilized by the local community in their traditional ways. The three ethnic groups of Sikkim - Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali which they fully believed in medicinal plants for the treatment propose in different diseases and Illness from ancient period of time⁶.

There are many prospects for alternative treatments with medicinal plants. The development of the clinical medical system is largely attributed to nature products, which are also an essential source of therapeutic substances. Sikkim’s indigenous healing plants have been scientifically investigated and information about them has been strongly dissemination to help people improve their heath and understand more about effective medication treatments⁷.

Sl. No	Botanical Name and Family	Common Name (Nepali)	Part Used	Traditionally Used For	Pharmacologically activity reported
1	Anthocephalus cadamba Family: Rubiaceae	Kadam	Leaves	Inflammation	Antioxidant and Antidiabetic [8]
2	Asparagus Racemosus Family: Liliaceae	Kurilo	Leaves	Diabetes	Hypoglycemic, Antioxidant and Hypolilidemic [9]
3	Bauhinia vahlii Family: Caesalpiniaceae	Verla	Stem Bark	Diarrhea, Skin Disease	Antidiabetic [10]
4	Berberis aristata Family:	Chutro	Stem Bark	Inflammation, Wound healing	Antidiabetic [11]
5	Callicarpa arborea Family:	Guahelo	Stem Bark	Fever and boils	Antidiabetic [12]
6	Campylandra aurantiaca Family: Asparagaceae	Nakima	Flower, Rhizome	Diabetes mellitus, antimalarial, analgesic	Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic [13]
7	Cassia fistula Family: Caesalpiniaceae	Raj Briksha	Leaves	Asthma, Diabetes and eczema	Antidiabetic [14]
8	Centella asiatica Family: Mackinlayaceae	Gora taprey	Leaves	Asthma	Antioxidant, Antidiabetic [15]
9	Chenopodium album Family: Chenopodiaceae	Bethu saag	Root	Piles, eye disease	Antidiabetic Antihyperlipidemic [16]
10	Clerodendron infortunatum Family: Verbenaceae	Chitu	Leaves, Flower	Dysentery	Antihyperglycemic [17]
11	Costus Speciosus Family: Costaceae	Betlaure	Rhizome	Diabetes	Antidiabetic Antilipidemic [18]
12	Dioscorea alata Family: Dioscoreaceae	Ghartarul	Fruit	Piles, Constipation	Antioxidant, Antidiabetic [19]
13	Drymaria cordata Family: Caryophyllaceae	Abhijalo	Leaves	Pneumonia, Infant fever, Sinusitis	Antidiabetic [20]
14	Edgewotthia gardener Family: Thymelaeaceae	Argaily	Flower, Stem bark	Fish poison	Antidiabetic [21]
15	Fagopyrum esculentum Family: Polygonaceae	Mithey phapur	Bran	Haemostasis Ulcer	Antioxidant Hypolipidemic Antidiabetic [22]
16	Ficus semicordata Family: Moraceae	Khasrey khaneu	Root, Fruit, Leaves	Bladder Complaints	Antioxidant Antidiabetic [23]
17	Fraxinus floribunda Family: Oleaceae	Lakuri	Bark	Diabetes, Gout Boils	Antihyperlipidemic Antidiabetic [24]
18	Garuga pinnata Family: Burseraceae	Dubdabay	Bark	Dislocation Bone Wound healing	Antidiabetic [25]
19	Gloriosa superb Family: Liliaceae	Langarey tarul	Root tuber	Aarthritis	Antioxidant Antidiabetic [26]
20	Jatropha curcas Family: Euphorbiaceae	Hathikana	Bark	Dysentery Skin disease	Antidiabetic [27]
21	Oxalis corniculata Family: Oxalidaceae	Chariamilo	Entire Plant	Dysentery Fever Anemia Appetite	Antidiabetic Antioxidant [28]
22	Oroxylum indicum Family: Bignoniaceae	Totala	Flower	Asthama Dysentery	Antioxidant Antidiabetic [29]
23	Physalis minima Family:	Raasbhari	Fruit	Diuretic Inflammation	Hypoglycemic [30]
24	Rubus ellipticus Family: Rosaceae	Aeiselu	Fruit	Astringent Kidney tonic	Antidiabetic Antioxidant [31]
25	Smilax zeylanica Family: Smilacaceae	Kukur Daaino	Rhizome	Urinary compliant Dysentery	Antidiabetic [32]
26	Stephania glabra	Tamarkey	Tubers, Root	Diabetes Tuberculosis Fever	Antidiabetic [33]
27	Syzygium cumini Family: Myrtaceae	Jyamuna	Stem bark	Diabetes	Antidiabetic [34]
28	Tamaarindus indica Family: Caesalpiniaceae	Teet - teetee	Fruit pulp	Ulcer Inflammation	Antioxidant Hypolipidemic Antidiabetic [35]
29	Tinospora cordifolia Family: Menispermaceae	Gurjo	Root	Diabetes	Antidiabetic [36]
30	Zingiber officinale Family:	Aduwa	Rhizome	Fever, Cold	Antidiabetic [37]

CONCLUSION

Northeastern India is the habitat to a vast variety of special plant species that are extensively utilized in traditional medical practices. Different parts of various plants such as leaves, Fruit, steam bark, Root, flowers etc shown different therapeutical bioactivity for the treatment for different diseases. Out of 424 medicinal plants species documented by Government of Sikkim, 30 medicinal plants species have discussed in this mini- review which shown Anti-diabetes properties. Further research and studies can be carried out in different medicinal plants which show medicinal value like anti-diabetes. researching the undiscovered plants resources in Sikkim, India, could show the way for the pharmaceutical industry to create novel, lifesaving medication that will improve the health of individuals.

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