Volume 98, May 2015, Pages 1–5
Mini review
Costus speciosus and Coccinia grandis: Traditional medicinal remedies for diabetes
Highlights
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- Therapeutic effects of Coccinia grandis and Costus speciosus are discussed.
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- Both plants possess anti-diabetic properties.
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- They have been historically used in traditional medicinal systems.
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- Both plants can be easily grown and are readily available in the tropics.
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- They are known to be effective therapeutic agents than current anti-diabetic drugs.
Abstract
Diabetes
mellitus is a major illness which has been implicated with numerous
clinical manifestations. Herbal medicines have become a popular form of
therapy for this disease and are now being engaged in complementary
means together with the usual chemical or biochemical agents due to the
fact that they are less toxic at recommended dosages than synthetic
counterparts. Plants have the ability to synthesize phytochemicals of
medicinal value and these products in turn can be used for therapeutic
purposes especially in developing countries where resources are meagre. Costus speciosus and Coccinia grandis
are plants which contain reservoirs of anti-diabetic effects as well as
other medicinal properties. These plants have been known to demonstrate
pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial,
antioxidant, anti-dyslipidemic and anti-cancer. This review discusses
the morphology of these two herbs, uses of these plants in medicinal
practices, their traditional methods of administration and the bioactive
compounds which have been identified to possess the anti-diabetic
properties.
Keywords
- Anti-diabetic;
- Coccinia grandis;
- Costus speciosus;
- Diabetes mellitus
- Corresponding author at: Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantane Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Tel.:
+ 94 81 2232002; fax: 94 81 2232131.
Copyright © 2015 South African Association of Botanists. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
