Role of herbal drug in diabetes management: A focus on Momordica charantia (karela) and Syzygium Cumini (Jamun)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common endocrine disorder and a major global health challenge, characterized by chronic hyperglycemia due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin or insulin resistance. This persistent hyperglycemia leads to disturbances in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism and predisposes to long-term vascular complications. Before the discovery of insulin and modern oral hypoglycemic agents, plant-based traditional medicines were the main source of diabetes management in various indigenous systems of medicine.Momordica charantia Linn. (Family: Cucurbitaceae), commonly known as Karela or bitter melon, and Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Family: Myrtaceae), commonly known as Jamun or Java plum, are among the most extensively studied antidiabetic plants. M. charantia fruit juice has been reported to lower blood glucose, improve glucose tolerance, enhance glucose uptake by skeletal muscle, inhibit intestinal glucose absorption, suppress hepatic gluconeogenesis and protect and restore pancreatic β-cell function and islet architecture through its bioactive constituents such as charantin, polypeptide-p and vicine. Similarly, S. cumini seeds are rich in jamboline, jambosine, ellagic acid and anthocyanins, which exert hypoglycemic action by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, increasing insulin secretion and reducing insulin resistance.The combination of both plants has shown synergistic and superior antidiabetic activity compared to individual therapy in both preclinical and clinical studies. Therefore, the polyherbal formulation containing M. charantia and S. cumini holds great therapeutic potential as a cost-effective, safe and effective adjunct in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.