Antidiabetic Natural Products

Abstract Diabetes mellitus has emerged as a major health challenge all over the world. The disease condition is a byproduct of fast, stressful lifestyle away from nature. In traditional system of medicine like the Ayurveda, the history of the disease “Madhumeha” is recorded. In the Ayurveda several single herbs (51), bhasma metals and minerals (9), herbo-mineral formulations (30), herbal formulations (34), Ghritas (medicated butter) (4), Taila (oil) (5), Asava-aristas (fermented syrup) (6) and Guggulu (Commiphora mukul) preparations (5) have been mentioned for the management of diabetic conditions. In type-2 diabetes mellitus, the postprandial hyperglycemia is one major problem. Novel therapeutic strategies aim to manage this situation with the help of drugs and herbal remedies that can interfere with the carbohydrate metabolizing machinery in our gut. This chapter illustrates various phyto-molecules and herbal extracts that have been proven as α-glucosidase inhibitors and can be developed into drug candidates in the future. The tradition-guided translation paradigm can open up novel opportunities in traditional knowledge-inspired drug discovery against diabetes.