Table 1.

Herbals in the management of plasma glucose level, acting through secretogogues mechanism or by improvement of insulin sensitivity to the cells.

Botanical name	Part used	Type of extract	Cases	Animal model	Outcome (effects)
Afzelia africana	Stem bark	Aqueous extract	STZ-induced diabetes	Wistar rats	The blood glucose level was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner with the best result obtained at 200 mg kg−1 body weight per day,
Urtica dioica	Leaf	Hydroalcoholic extract	Fructose-induced insulin resistance	Wistar rats	The blood glucose and FIRI in hyperglycemic rats were reduced in a dose-dependent manner with the best result obtained at 200 mg kg−1 body weight/day. The plasma insulin level was also found to be reduced in treatment group.
Chloroxylon swietenia	Bark	Methanolic and aqueous extract	STZ-induced diabetes	Male albino Wistar rats	Diabetic rats in treatment group showed moderate reduction in blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels, in addition, plasma insulin were elevated. The outcomes of methanolic extract were comparable to glibenclamide.
Anacardium occidentale	Leaf	Ethanol extract	STZ-induced diabetes	Female albino Wistar mice	Blood glucose was decreased 147.67 ± 6.09 mg dL−1 to 123.83 ± 2.87 mg dL−1 after 30 days treatment with plant extract. At the same time, glycosylated haemoglobin level, FIRI and serum insulin level were decreased in treatment group.
Forsythia suspensa	Fruit	Ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract	STZ-induced diabetes	Male Kunming mice	Blood glucose was significantly decreased; insulin secretion and glucose tolerance were significantly increased.
Symplocos cochinchinesis	Bark	Ethanol extract	High fructose and saturated fat induced insulin resistance	Male albino Sprague Dawley rats	Blood glucose level was significantly reduced at day 20.
Pleurotus ostreatus	–	Aqueous extract	High fat diet and STZ-induced diabetes	Male Wistar rats	Treatment group showed significant reduction in fasting blood glucose level, FINS and HOM-IR and increase in ISI and HOM- β in a dose-dependent manner.
Helicterus angustifolia	Root	Ethanol extract	STZ-induced diabetes	Sprague Dawley rats	The blood glucose, plasma insulin level and HOMA-IR were significantly reduced in treatment group.
Uvaria chamae	Root	Hydroethanolic extract	STZ-induced diabetes	Albino rats	The treatment group showed significant blood glucose reduction with formation of regenerated islet of Langerhans shown in photomicrograph of pancreas.
Coccinia grandis	Leaf	Ethanolic extract	STZ-induced diabetes	Wistar rats	Significant reduction in plasma glucose level and increase in serum insulin level in a dose-dependent manner.