Literature review: anti-diabetic potential of some selected edible vegetables in tropical region
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27 November 2022
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Objective: This review aims to discuss the potential of commonly consumed vegetables by the Asian and African communities of tropical and subtropical regions to lower blood glucose level.
Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global concern with 463 million adult cases in 2019, which is increasing exponentially and is expected to reach 700 million by 2045. DM is mainly caused by the abnormality of carbohydrate metabolism giving rise to low blood insulin level or insensitivity of target
organs to insulin. α-Amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes digest the carbohydrates and increase the
postprandial glucose level in diabetic patients. Inhibiting the activity of these two enzymes can control postprandial hyperglycemia and reduce the risk of developing diabetes. The different hypoglycemic drugs such as α-glucosidase, α-amylase inhibitors, ATP-K+
channel inhibitors (sulfonylureas), DPP-4 inhibitors and PPAR-γ activators (thiazolidinediones) are commonly used to manage diabetes. These synthetic drugs
often show undesirable side effects, insulin resistance and are expensive. A number of phytochemicals such as cucurbitacins responsible for hypoglycemia are present in the common vegetables.
Methods: Overview of the literature synthesizing the findings of literature retrieved from searches of recognised databases of selected vegetables known to decrease blood glucose level.
Conclusions: Compounds with α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities can be obtained from several natural resources. Plants of the Cucurbitaceae family were rich in high number of cucurbitanes having α-glucosidase inhibitory potential and can be clinically developed for treating DM.
