Abstract

PLANTS USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: TRADITIONAL USES IN VITRO AND IN VIVO.

Muziazia Lupemba Jacques, Zhishen Xie, Ye Boping*, Xiao-Jun Xu*

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder affecting millions worldwide. It is recognized as a global major health problem. As alternatives to the available orthodox medicines, plants are considered a potential source for the treatment of diabetes within traditional ethno medicine practices. In the DRCongo traditional medicine a significant selection of ethno botanicals is promoted for their antidiabetic activity. Literature surveys demonstrate the benefit of several ethno botanicals as antidiabetic agents evaluated in vitro and in vivo systems in the form of their crude extracts and/or isolated pure compounds with varying degrees of hypoglycemic or anti hyperglycemic bioactivities. This mini review discusses the preparatory forms in which these plants are consumed, their reported phytoconstituents, and the results of their reported antidiabetic bioactivity.

Keywords: traditional medicine, medicinal plants, diabetes, DR Congo.