A Comprehensive Review on Selected Traditional Herbs in the Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome
Abstract
Author(s): Javed Ahamad
Medicinal plants have been identified and used traditionally throughout the world from beginning of the human civilization. The term metabolic syndrome is characterized by a combination of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular complications. In recent years’ metabolic syndrome is measure cause of deaths worldwide. Traditional herbs and natural products are claimed to be beneficial in controlling metabolic syndrome. Thus, in the present review, we reviewed traditional herbs like Olea europaea (Olives), Momordica charantia (Bitter-gourd), Gymnema sylvestre (Gurmar) and Enicostema littorale (Chota-chiretta) and their active components for treatment of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome represents a cluster of related metabolic abnormalities, including central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, with central obesity and insulin resistance in particular recognized as causative factors. Metabolic syndrome has shown significant impact on the health, quality of life and life expectancy of patients, as well as on the healthcare system. A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar to search for O. europaea (Olives), M. charantia (Bitter-gourd), G. sylvestre (Gurmar) and E. littorale (Chota-chiretta) and their active components related to metabolic syndrome. Based on the evidence presented within the literature, the aforementioned traditional herbs and their active components could provide specific treatment for metabolic syndrome. Further research is encouraged to determine the efficacy of these traditional herbs in the clinical treatment of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular complications.
