Antidiabetic Activity
Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is one of the most common disorders
worldwide [42]. It is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglyce-
mia. The metabolic disorders include alterations in the carbohydrate, fat, and pro-
tein metabolism associated with absolute or relative deficiencies in insulin secre-
tion and/or insulin action. Along with hyperglycemia and abnormalities in serum
lipids [43], diabetes is associated with microvascular and macrovascular complica-
tions, which constitute the main cause of morbidity and mortality of diabetic pa-
tients
The prevention of diabetes is an urgent worldwide public health concern. Obes-
ity and insulin resistance induced by overeating and physical inactivity typically
characterizes the period preceding onset of type 2 diabetes. Shigeta et al. [62] have
shown that caloric restriction and physical exercise have obvious importance. They
stress that actively promoting healthy eating and sleeping habits should be consid-
ered for the prevention of obesity and insulin resistance.
128 6 Biological and Toxicological Properties of Moroccan Plant Extracts: Advances in Research
Table 6.2 Secondary metabolites isolated from Moroccan medicinal plants.
Plant Constituents Reference
Chrysanthemum viscidehirtum Flavonoid 45
Ruta montana Alkaloids 46
Mentha longifolia Flavonoid 47
Lavandula multifida Diterpenes 48
Warionia saharae Sesquiterpene lactones 49
Tetraclinis articulata Diterpenoids 50
Anvillea radiata Sesquiterpene lactones 51
Juniperus thurifera and J. Phoenicea Diterpenic acids 52
Silene cucubalus Saponins 53
Cedrus atlantica Diterpenes 54
Herniaria fontanesii Saponins 55
Bupleurum acutifolium Lignans and polyacetylenes 56
Zygophyllum gaetulum Saponins 57
Argania spinosa Saponins 58
Solanaceous species Alkaloids 59–61
Epidemiologic studies of diabetes in Morocco are very rare. But it has been not-
ed that there has been a considerable increase in its prevalence in recent decades.
Demographic trends and changes in lifestyle related to intensive urbanization are
the main causes of the disease. The last national estimation indicated that the prev-
alence of diabetes was around 6.6% for people over 20 years old. And if we consid-
er people more than 50 years old, the prevalence exceeds 10%. Thus, today approx-
imately a million and half people suffer from diabetes in Morocco. Along with the
big increase in the number of diabetic patients, the cost of treatment, especially
that accompanying complications in terms of morbidity and mortality, has risen
and this constitutes a challenge for government. Since 1995, the Ministry of Pub-
lic Health has adopted a national program in which primary health care centers
play a crucial role in the management of diabetes mellitus, including diagnosis of
people at risk, adoption of a standardized diagnostic procedure, insulin therapy if
required in due time, and provision of basic education and information about the
control of complications when the diagnosis is confirmed.
Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is one of the most common disorders
worldwide [42]. It is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglyce-
mia. The metabolic disorders include alterations in the carbohydrate, fat, and pro-
tein metabolism associated with absolute or relative deficiencies in insulin secre-
tion and/or insulin action. Along with hyperglycemia and abnormalities in serum
lipids [43], diabetes is associated with microvascular and macrovascular complica-
tions, which constitute the main cause of morbidity and mortality of diabetic pa-
tients
The prevention of diabetes is an urgent worldwide public health concern. Obes-
ity and insulin resistance induced by overeating and physical inactivity typically
characterizes the period preceding onset of type 2 diabetes. Shigeta et al. [62] have
shown that caloric restriction and physical exercise have obvious importance. They
stress that actively promoting healthy eating and sleeping habits should be consid-
ered for the prevention of obesity and insulin resistance.
128 6 Biological and Toxicological Properties of Moroccan Plant Extracts: Advances in Research
Table 6.2 Secondary metabolites isolated from Moroccan medicinal plants.
Plant Constituents Reference
Chrysanthemum viscidehirtum Flavonoid 45
Ruta montana Alkaloids 46
Mentha longifolia Flavonoid 47
Lavandula multifida Diterpenes 48
Warionia saharae Sesquiterpene lactones 49
Tetraclinis articulata Diterpenoids 50
Anvillea radiata Sesquiterpene lactones 51
Juniperus thurifera and J. Phoenicea Diterpenic acids 52
Silene cucubalus Saponins 53
Cedrus atlantica Diterpenes 54
Herniaria fontanesii Saponins 55
Bupleurum acutifolium Lignans and polyacetylenes 56
Zygophyllum gaetulum Saponins 57
Argania spinosa Saponins 58
Solanaceous species Alkaloids 59–61
Epidemiologic studies of diabetes in Morocco are very rare. But it has been not-
ed that there has been a considerable increase in its prevalence in recent decades.
Demographic trends and changes in lifestyle related to intensive urbanization are
the main causes of the disease. The last national estimation indicated that the prev-
alence of diabetes was around 6.6% for people over 20 years old. And if we consid-
er people more than 50 years old, the prevalence exceeds 10%. Thus, today approx-
imately a million and half people suffer from diabetes in Morocco. Along with the
big increase in the number of diabetic patients, the cost of treatment, especially
that accompanying complications in terms of morbidity and mortality, has risen
and this constitutes a challenge for government. Since 1995, the Ministry of Pub-
lic Health has adopted a national program in which primary health care centers
play a crucial role in the management of diabetes mellitus, including diagnosis of
people at risk, adoption of a standardized diagnostic procedure, insulin therapy if
required in due time, and provision of basic education and information about the
control of complications when the diagnosis is confirmed.
إرسال تعليق