Abstract

ETHNOMEDICINAL SURVEY ON ANTI- DIABETIC PLANTS OF JAMMU & KASHMIR

Dr. Haroon Bashir*, Dr. Ather Hussain, Dr. Sajadul Hassan Kumhar, Umar Rasheed Bichoo and Moosa Rais Malik

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a progressive disease of carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism that causes blood sugar levels to rise. It is a complicated metabolic condition caused by either insulin deficiency or insulin dysfunction. Insulin is a hormone developed in the pancreatic endocrine gland that is used to transport glucose from the bloodstream into the various body cells where it is used as energy. In a diabetic, the absence of „secretion or ineffectiveness' of insulin hormone ensures that glucose keeps circulating in the blood.The resulting elevated concentration of glucose in the blood, known as "hyperglycemia," induces damage to multiple cells in the body over time, leading to the occurrence of debilitating and life-threatening health complications. Diabetes is classified into two types: “Type I diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is caused by a loss of activated beta cells in the pancreas.” Patients with this form of diabetes are completely reliant on an exogenous supply of insulin for life. “Type II diabetes, also known as insulin independent diabetes, is characterised by an inability to adapt to insulin and is treatable by lifestyle modifications, exercise, and medication.” Type II diabetes is the most prevalent, accounting for 90 percent of the diabetic population. Diabetes signs include: (1) elevated blood sugar levels, (2) unusual appetite, (3) frequent urination, (4) severe fatigue and weight loss, (5) blurred vision, (6) nausea and vomiting, (7) intense exhaustion and tiredness, (8) irritability, mood swings, and so on (Modak et al., 2007). India has many traditions, cultures, and tribes that adopt various customs and medical systems for health care. India has “15 Agro-climatic zones and 17,000–18,000 species of flowering plants, of which 6000–7000” are estimated to have medicinal applications in folk and known medical systems such as “Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homeopathy.”

Keywords: Diabetes, Insulin, Ayurveda.