The Role of Natural Products on Diabetes Mellitus Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia due to secretion and/or the action of insulin or both. This disease of high incidence and prevalence affects the quality of life and productivity of the population that suffers from it. Although there are drugs that have been widely used in the treatment of this disease, at present the search for possible antidiabetic agents has continued, especially if they have more than one mechanism of action, taking into account the complexity of this pathology.

Metformin (a biguanide), which is a derivative of galegin, is among the first-line therapy for the treatment of Type II DM. This guanidine was isolated from the Galega officinalis L., a plant that has been used since the Middle Ages by diabetic patients. This fact has aroused interest in the use of medicinal plants and its secondary metabolites as possible drugs in DM treatment. Although it is difficult to find a substitute for insulin among plants, it is possible that molecules can be found that stimulate endogenous insulin biosynthesis and secretion or increase glucose absorption in blood by peripheral tissues, by acting as insulinomimetic or insulin secretagogue agents.

Following on from the above, this Special Issue is focused on the study of natural products (characterized extracts and isolated secondary metabolites) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus complications by in vivo and in vitro assays. Clinical trials are also welcome.

Dr. Diana Marcela Aragon Novoa
Prof. Dr. Fátima Regina Mena Barreto Silva
Guest Editors

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