Title:Antidiabetic Potential of Naturally Occurring Sesquiterpenes: A Review
Volume: 21
Issue: 10
Author(s): Anupam Maurya*, Sweta Mohan and Subash C. Verma
Affiliation:
- Chemistry Section, Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), Ministry of AYUSH, Ghaziabad (U.P.) 201002,India
Keywords:
Diabetes Mellitus, Natural products, Terpenoids, Sesquiterpene, Hyperglycemia, Antihyperglycemic agents.
Abstract: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an endocrine disease, which is the 3rd leading cause of death
in humans; additionally, it is one of the major key concerns over the globe. The high levels of glucose
in the blood stream are as well characterized by hyperglycaemia leading to serious damage to
the heart, blood vessels, kidney, eyes, and nerves. The best treatment of DM is still not available;
many scientists worldwide are trying hard to seek out suitable treatment of DM. Though numerous
synthetic drugs are developed for the treatment of diabetes but their utility has been hampered because
of several side effects and poor efficacy. Among various approaches for the treatment of
DM, herbal medicine, enriched extracts, and naturally derived molecules are most effective. Plant
based herbal medicines contain many bioactive phytochemicals, such as terpenoids, alkaloids,
flavonoids & phenolics, etc. which are used in the treatment of many diseases. The plant-derived
molecules and their suitable structure modification have given many leads or drugs to the world
like sesquiterpene; artemisinin and their derivatives artemether & artesunate as an antimalarial
drugs. Sesquiterpenes are available in the human diet and are largely taken as components of the
many folk medicines and dietary supplements. Sesquiterpenes have a wide range of biological activities,
such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic
and antimicrobial, which make them potential targets for the development of new therapeutics and
their usage for medical purposes. Natural products have gained the attention of the world due to
their large number of biological activities, high safety and fewer side effect. The review mainly focuses
on bioactive sesquiterpenes such as β-caryophyllene, dysidine, farnesol & eremanthin, etc., a
class of terpenoids that may play an important role in the treatment or prevention of this gruesome
disorder like diabetes, with their underlying mechanisms for the blood-glucose-lowering property.
