The incidence of diabetes mellitus continue to rise annually all over the world with India and Nigeria having recorded cases of 65.1 and 3.9 million respectively in 2013 expected to increase by a large amount in 2035. Hyperglycaemia is a pre-condition for the development of diabetic complications and is accompanied by an increase in the production of free radicals. The present available treatment option for diabetes like sulphonylurea, metformin and alpha-glucosidase are restricted by their limited actions, secondary failure rates, and side effects; and unaffordable to majority of the population. Hence the need to screen for more medicinal plants with antidiabetic ability due to the fact that plants are; biodegradable, safe and cheap with fewer side effects. In this review article, we have presented the current status of diabetes in India and Nigeria and the role some less commonly used medicinal plants from both countries which have antidiabetic potential.
Key words: Diabetes, Antidiabetic plants, Oxidative stress, Medicinal plants, hypoglycaemic activity.
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