Table 1.
Antidiabetic medicinal plants growing in Saudi Arabia.
| S. no. | Names of plants | Family | Part used | location | Antidiabetes Activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Allium cepa | Liliaceae | Bulb | Central Saudi Arabia [36] | Ethanol extract of A. cepa in STZ-induced diabetic rats causes 66% decreased at 200 mg/kg after 24 h in blood glucose level [37]. 0.4 g/100gbw of A. cepa reduced 50% the fasting glucose levels of diabetic rats [38]. Similar results reported by other researchers [39]. |
| 2. | Anthemis herba-alba | Compositae/Asteraceae | Aerial parts | Farasan Island of Red Sea [40] | 72% plasma glucose levels decreased in albino mice by ethyl alcohol extract of Artemisia herba-alba [41] |
| 3. | Cichorium intybus | Asteraceae | Seeds | Qassim region [42] | C. intybus leaf powder, ethanol, aqueous seed extracts, and hexane extracts led to a decrease in blood glucose levels to near normal value. Hypoglycemic effects of C. intybus were observed in diabetic rats, and a dose of 125 mg of plant extract/kg body weight exhibited the most potent hypoglycemic effect [43–45] |
| 4. | Clitoria ternatea | Fabaceae | Aerial parts | Cultivated throughout Saudi Arabia [46] | The aqueous extract of Clitoria ternatea leaves and flower administered for 84 days to diabetic rats significantly decreased blood glucose [46–48] |
| 5. | Ficus carica | Moraceae | Leaves | Southwest of Saudi Arabia [49] | Different extracts and fractions of F. carica showed a clear hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats. F. carica leaves exerted significant effect on carbohydrate metabolism enzymes with promising hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities in type 2 diabetic rats [50, 51] |
| 6. | Ficus benghalensis | Moraceae | Bark | Riyadh [52] | In streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, bark aqueous extract, and an isolated compound, α-amyrin acetate exhibited antidiabetic activity by decreasing the blood glucose level and increasing the HDL level [53] |
| 7. | Ficus religiosa | Moraceae | Root bark, stem bark, aerial roots | Riyadh [52] | The aqueous extract of bark and ethanol extract of leaves and fruits had a promising antidiabetic effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by decreasing the blood glucose, serum triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels and increasing serum insulin, body weight, and glycogen content in the liver and skeletal muscle [53] |
| 8. | Ficus microcarpa | Moraceae | Leaves | Riyadh [52] | F. microcarpa leaves showed protective effect against alloxan-induced diabetic rats by reducing blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and increased insulin level [53] |
| 9. | Hypericum perforatum | Hypericaceae | Leaves | Western Saudi Arabia [54] | H. perforatum ethyl acetate extract possesses potent antihyperglycemic activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats [55]. |
| 10 | Anethum graveolens | Apiaceae | Seeds | Makka [56] | Different extracts and tablets of Anethum graveolens possess potent antihyperglycemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic mice [57] |
| 11 | Cuminum cyminum L. | Apiaceae or Umbelliferae | Seeds | Makka [56] | Oral administration of cumin seeds crude ethanol extract and glibenclamide to diabetic rats significantly and progressively restored toward normal. Cumin seeds crude ethanol extract and glibenclamide reduced plasma glucose levels by 38.34 and 37.73%, respectively, compared with diabetic control [58]. Other studies also reported similar results [59]. |
| 12 | Marrubium vulgare | Lamiaceae | Whole plant | Widely distributed in Saudi Arabia [60] | M. vulgare extracts lower blood glucose level 30 to 60% in dose-dependent manner in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats [60]. |
| 13 | Mentha longifolia | Lamiaceae | Whole plant | Madinah [61] | Remarkable antidiabetic, anticholinesterase, and antityrosinase effects were recorded for the mint oil [61, 62]. Still need to investigate in vivo antidiabetic potential. |
| 14 | Origanum syriacum | Lamiaceae | Leaves | Saudi Desert [63] | The whole plant extract of O. syriacum at 100 and 400 mg/kg significantly lowers glucose level in diabetic induced rats [64]. |
| 15 | Teucrium oliverianum | Lamiaceae | Aerial parts | Throughout Saudi Arabia [65,66] | Aqueous and ethanol extract of Teucrium oliverianum were tested for antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Both extracts significantly reduced blood sugar levels [65] |
| 16 | Teucrium polium | Lamiaceae | Leaves | Madinah [67] | Infusion orally (64% decrease glucose level) and intraperitoneal of different extracts of T. polium caused significant reductions in blood glucose concentration in STZ hyperglycemic rats [68] |
| 17 | Achyranthes aspera | Amaranthaceae | Whole plant | Al Hada Road Taif [69] | The methanolic and ethanolic extract of A. aspera exhibited significant hypoglycemic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats [70] |
| 18 | Aerva lanata | Amaranthaceae | Leaves | Southwest region of Saudi Arabia [71, 72] | Extracts of Aerva lanata and glibenclamide were found to significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) reduce the blood glucose level and lipid profile in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats [73] |
| 19 | Alternanthera sessilis | Amaranthaceae | Whole plant | Hail region, Saudi Arabia [74] | In diabetic mice at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg per kg body weight, the extract reduced blood sugar levels by 22.9, 30.7, 45.4, and 46.1%, respectively, compared to control animals. By comparison, a standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide, when administered at a dose of 10 mg per kg body weight, reduced blood glucose level by 48.9% [75] |
| 20 | Carissa edulis | Apocynaceae | Leaves | Southern region of Saudi Arabia [76] | Oral administration of C. edulis extracts of the leaves significantly reduced the blood glucose level in STZ diabetic rats [77]. |
| 21 | Catharanthus roseus | Apocynaceae | Flower, leaves, stem, and root | Western Saudi Arabia [78] | C. roseus (100 mg/kg BW) lowered the glucose level more than metformin-treated group (100 mg/kg BW) in STZ-induced hyperglycemia rats. C. roseus 200 mg/kg dose was found to be more effective in reducing fasting blood glucose levels [79] |
| 22 | Rhazya stricta | Apocynaceae | Leaves, seeds | Middle and western region of Saudi Arabia [80] | Extracts Rhazya stricta lowered 37.9% blood glucose level in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in the treated diabetic group compared to the untreated diabetic group [81] |
| 23 | Calotropis procera | Asclepiadaceae | Latex | Al-Kharj [82] | Different extracts of C. procera at dose of 250 mg/kg were orally administered as single dose per day to diabetes-induced rats for the period of 15 days significantly decreases blood glucose level to the level of standard drug glibenclamide [83] |
| 24 | Opuntia dillenii | Cactaceae | Fruit | Jazan Region [84] | Researcher observed the significant hypoglycemic activity of Opuntia dillenii extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and rabbits [85] |
| 25 | Opuntia ficus-indica | Cactaceae | Stem | Jazan Region [84] | Powder and water extract of O. ficus-indica significantly (in comparison with control group) returned blood glucose level to the initial level, 180 min after administration in STZ-induced diabetic rats [86]. Many studies confirmed the hypoglycemic activities of O. ficus-indica [87] |
| 26 | Capparis decidua | Capparaceae | Fruits, seeds | Jazan Region [84] | C. decidua extracts at dose level of 200 and 800 mg/kg significantly reduce sugar level (in a dose-dependent manner) compared to standard drug in STZ-induced diabetic and normal rats [88]. |
| 27 | Beta vulgaris | Chenopodiaceae | Root bark | North Hejaz and Eastern Najd region of Saudi Arabia [89] | Extract of B. vulgaris at does level 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of significantly reduced sugar level and increased in insulin level (in a dose-dependent manner) in streptozotocin or alloxan-induced diabetic mice [90]. Other researchers also concluded similar finding in STZ-induced diabetic rats [91]. |
| 28 | Haloxylon salicornicum Bunge | Chenopodiaceae | Whole plant | Wadi-Hafr-Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia [92] | Ethanol extract (100 and 200 mg/kg of bw) of H. salicornicum (oral administration) exhibited persistent hypoglycemic effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats [93] |
| 29 | Evolvulus alsinoides | Convolvulaceae | Whole plant | Jazan Region [84] | E. alsinoides ethanol extract at dose level (150 mg/kg bw) in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats leads to hyperglycemia in experimental diabetic rats that decreased utilization of glucose by insulin-dependent pathways [94, 95] |
| 30 | Ipomea aquatica | Convolvulaceae | Whole plant | Jazan Region [96] | I. aquatica ethanol extract at dose level (10, 100, and 1000 µg/ml in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats significantly (P < .05) exhibited the ability to enhance insulin-mediated glucose uptake into 3T3F442A adipocytes cells compared to insulin alone [97]. Another study confirmed that doses (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) reduced blood glucose level, and it was statistically highly significant (P < 0.001) in comparison with control group [98]. |
| 31 | Citrullus colocynthis | Cucurbitaceae | Fruits | Jazan Region [84] | 1 ml/kg and 2 ml/kg of C. colocynthis extract (orally administered) stabilized animal body weight and ameliorated hyperglycemia in a dose- and time-dependent manner in alloxan-induced diabetic rats [99] |
| 32 | Citrullus lanatus | Cucurbitaceae | Seed | Wadi Lajab, Saudi Arabia [100] | C. lanatus seed extract (2, 4 g/kg) treatment significantly lowers glucose level which suggested that C. lanatus had antidiabetic property in STZ-induced diabetes mice [101]. Other researcher also concluded similar finding in STZ-induced diabetic rats [102] |
| 33 | Coccinia grandis | Cucurbitaceae | Whole plant | Jazan Region [84] | The C. grandis extract (0.75 mg/kg, orally) showed remarkable glycemic effect which confirmed antidiabetic potential in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats [103]. |
| 34 | Jatropha curcas | Euphorbiaceae | Leaves | Jazan Region [84] | Ethanolic extract of J. curcas leaves at doses of (250 and 500 mg ml−1 bw by administered orally) reduced glucose level from 219.5 to 116.5 and 237 to 98.8, respectively, in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The results were comparable to reduction in rats treated with the standard glibenclamide 232–94.5 at 600 μg kg−1 [104]. |
| 35 | Ricinus communis | Euphorbiaceae | Leaves | Jazan Region [84] | R. communis extracts at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg/BW administered orally caused hyperglycemia in a dose-dependent manner in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats [105]. |
| 36 | Ficus carica | Moraceae | Leaves | Jazan Region [84] | A review article focusing on antidiabetic potential of F. carica confirmed that different extracts and fractions of F. carica and different doses significantly reducing hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats compared to standard drug [106]. |
| 37 | Ficus sycomorus | Moraceae | Leaves | Jazan Region [84] | Alloxan-induced type 2 diabetic albino Wistar rats treated with 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg (body weight) of the extract of F. sycomorus intraperitoneally reduced glucose level in diabetic rats almost to the normal as compared to diabetic control [107] |
| 38 | Sesamum indicum | Pedaliaceae | Seeds | Jazan Region [84] | Alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with 5% and 10% of Sesamum indicum seed powder significantly decreased blood glucose and increased insulin levels as compared with the positive (diabetic) control group [108] |
| 39 | Plantago ovata | Plantaginaceae | Husk | Northern border region of Saudi Arabia [18] | In intravenous administration of alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits glucose level lowering effect observed (time dependent manner) with P. ovata husk extract of dose level (300 mg/kg, orally administered) [109] |
| 40 | Polygala erioptera | Polygalaceae | Aerial part | Jazan Region [84] | 0.7 g/kg of P. erioptera extract showed significant antidiabetic effect compared to standard drug metformin and glibenclamide in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats [110] |
| 41 | Polygonum aviculare L | Polygonaceae | Aerial parts | Taif Region [111, 112] | Many ethnopharmacological investigations reported its antidiabetic potential but still need to study its in vivo and in vitro antidiabetic potential [113, 114] |
| 42 | Ziziphus spina-christi | Rhamnaceae | Leaves | Eastern region of Saudi Arabia [84, 112] | The strongest (P < 0.001) antidiabetic activity (25.59 and 39.48% after 7 and 15 days, respectively) was found following treatment with dose level of 500 mg/kg of Z. spina-christi extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mice [115]. |
| 43 | Bacopa monnieri | Scrophulariaceae | Aerial parts | Jazan Region [84] | B. monnieri extract at dose level of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg significantly inhibited (33.3, 34.2, 42.1, and 44.2%, respectively) the increase in serum glucose concentration in a dose-dependent manner compared to standard drug [116]. |
| 44 | Lycium shawii | Solanaceae | Aerial parts | Taif Region [112] | The strongest (P < 0.001) antidiabetic activity of L. shawii extract of 250 and 500 mg/kg bw was found in a dose-dependent manner in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats [117]. |
| 45 | Solanum nigrum | Solanaceae | Whole plant | Jazan Region [84] | S. nigrum extract was given orally in the dose level of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day (7 days) significantly lowering the blood glucose level in fasting compared to standard drug in alloxan-induced diabetic albino Wistar rats [118]. |
| 46 | Withania somnifera | Solanaceae | Leaves | Jazan Region [84] | W. somnifera extract oral administration at two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) reduced the blood glucose level significantly (P < 0.001) in a dose‐dependent manner in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. Only WS treatment did not register any significant change in the blood glucose level when compared to citrate control rats [119]. Another study also confirmed similar results in alloxan-induced diabetic rats [120] |
| 47 | Lantana camara | Verbenaceae | Leaves | Jazan Region [84] | Literature survey showed that L. camara leaf extract oral administration (200, 250, and 500 mg/kg of bw) showed antidiabetic potential in alloxan-induced diabetic rats [121] |
| 48 | Peganum harmala | Zygophyllaceae | Seeds | Taif Region [112] | P. harmala seed extract at dose level of (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg, orally administered for four weeks) significantly decreases in blood glucose (in all doses, P < 0.001), in comparison with diabetic group [122]. |
| 49 | Tribulus terrestris | Zygophyllaceae | Stem, leaves | Jazan Region [84] Taif Region [112] |
T. terrestris extract at (2 g/kg body weight) produced protective effect in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by inhibiting oxidative stress [123]. T. terrestris L. extract (250 mg/kg of bw orally administered) significantly lowers glucose level to normal compared to standard drug in glucose-loaded normal rabbits [124] |
| 50 | Urtica dioica | Urticaceae | Leaves | Wild plant, Tanhat, Saudi Arabia [125] | Urtica dioica extract at 100 mg/kg (P < 0.01) and 200 mg/kg (P < 0.001) significantly decreased serum glucose fructose-induced insulin resistance rats [126]. The aqueous extract of U. dioica significantly (P < 0.001; 67.92%) reduced the blood glucose level at dose of 300 mg/kg, IP) in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats [127] |