Therapeutic Potential of Gentianaceae Family Plants in the Treatment of Diabetes and Its Complications

TL;DR

This paper reviews how plants from the Gentianaceae family may help treat diabetes and its complications by regulating blood sugar and reducing damage to organs.

Contribution

The paper systematically compiles evidence on Gentianaceae plant extracts and compounds for diabetes treatment, highlighting their mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Findings

Gentianaceae plant extracts regulate blood glucose levels and reduce oxidative stress.

They protect pancreatic beta cells and improve liver and kidney function in diabetic models.

The compounds show promise in improving lipid metabolism and reducing diabetes-related complications.

Abstract

Diabetes, a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from insulin insufficiency or impaired insulin sensitivity, is one of the major global health challenges. Persistent hyperglycemia in diabetes affects microcirculation, eyes, kidneys, liver, pancreas, muscle, and adipose tissue, which consequently leads to irreversible health issues such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, cardiovascular complications, abnormalities of lipoprotein metabolism, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Although available therapies are effective to some extent, they remain limited in efficacy and are often associated with side effects, underscoring the urgent need for novel treatment options. Traditionally, plant extracts and natural compounds have been used for centuries to treat diabetes and its complications. Plant extracts from the Gentianaceae family have emerged as a particularly promising source of bioactive compounds proven to be useful for the treatment of various diseases, including diabetes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the most studied plant extracts and isolated compounds from the Gentianaceae family, with a focus on their use in diabetes treatment as well as their action in managing hyperglycemia, antioxidant activity, protection of pancreatic beta cells and associated complications. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated their great potential to regulate blood glucose levels, reduce oxidative stress, alleviate tissue and organ damage—primarily in the liver and kidney—and improve lipid metabolism. To fully achieve this potential, future research should prioritize well-designed clinical trials to verify safety and efficacy in humans, conduct detailed molecular and cellular studies, standardize extraction and characterization methods to ensure reproducibility, and incorporate conservation biology principles into pharmacognostic investigations.

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