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J Nephropathol. 2016;5(1): 44-50.
doi: 10.15171/jnp.2016.08
PMID: 27047810
PMCID: PMC4790187
  Abstract View: 5649
  PDF Download: 2488

Original Article

An ethno-medicinal study of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes

Babak Baharvand-Ahmadi 1, Mahmoud Bahmani 2, Pegah Tajeddini 3, Nasrollah Naghdi 4, Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei 3*

1 Madani Heart Hospital, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
2 Food and Beverages Safety Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
3 Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
4 Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
*Corresponding Author: *Corresponding author: Prof. Mahmoud Rafieian-Kopaei, Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical sciences, Shahrekord, Iran; , Email: rafieian@gmail.com

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is the greatest public health problem and is considered as the silent epidemic of the 21st century. In Iran, there are approximately 1.5 million diabetic patients. Before the discovery of insulin, medicinal plants were widely used for the treatment of diabetes in Iran.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the indigenous plants used for the treatment of diabetes in Shiraz, southwest of Iran.

Materials and Methods: Semi-structured direct interviews were conducted with 25 herbalists to identify medicinal plants used to treat diabetes. Questionnaires were included herbalist personal information, plant local name, growth season, plant parts used, preparation methods, and traditional therapies.

Results: The interview data indicated that, 24 medicinal plants from 19 families are used for the treatment of diabetes in Shiraz. The families with most antidiabetic species were Compositae (13%), Rosaceae (13%) and Cucurbitaceae (8%). The most frequently used plant parts were fruits (38%) and the most common preparation method was decoction (62%). For 45% of reported plants, pharmaceutical studies approved antidiabetic effects in animal or humane model of diabetes. Results of this study showed that the plants recommended by Shirazian herbalists have potential antidiabetic effects.

Conclusions: It is suggested that the ingredients of indigenous plants be studied to determine therapeutic effects and mechanism of action. If they were safe and effective, they can be refined and processed to produce natural drugs.


Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:

Diabetes is considered as the silent epidemic problem of the 21st century. The use of medicinal plants is particularly valuable in treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders especially for diabetes. This is a good ethno-botanical study in which the authors present valuable medicinal plants effective on diabetes in Shiraz, south of Iran.

Please cite this paper as: Baharvand-Ahmadi B, Bahmani M, Tajeddini P, Naghdi N, Rafieian-Kopaei M. An ethno-medicinal study of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes. J Nephropathol. 2016;5(1):44-50. DOI: 10.15171/jnp.2016.08

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ePublished: 16 Dec 2015
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