the elevation of blood glucose levels, that is, the development of insulin resistance
and hyperglycemia (Perry et al. 2014). For many years of research, insulin resistance mechanisms remain a focal point of study and the ability to maintain glycemic
homeostasis improves the progression and severity of diabetes mellitus, for this
reason, drugs that include oral antidiabetic agents are used, insulin and others like
incretin to control blood homeostasis (Chen et al. 2019a). Medicinal plants have
been used for many years to treat various diseases. The use of these medicinal
plants alone or in combination with other medicinal plants is currently known as an
alternative therapy for the treatment of chronic-degenerative diseases such as DM
using phytochemical compounds and the bioactivity of medicinal plants (Engin
et al. 2018). Plants can have many phytochemical compounds with an effect on
various metabolic pathways. On the other hand, the bioactive compounds of
medicinal plants and the antidiabetic, anti-hyperglycemic, and hypoglycemic
potential have been reviewed in various investigations in different models in the
long or short term, as well as these can be used in conjunction with pharmacological
drugs (Martín and Ramos 2017). Table 15.5 shows the compounds with antidiabetic potential such as bitter gourd, ginger, turmeric, black cumin, cinnamon, garlic,
green tea, among others. The most common compounds found in these medicinal
plants are anthocyanins, quercetin, cinnamaldehyde, curcumin, catechins, S-methyl
cysteine sulfoxide, and oleoresin A among others (Beidokhti and Jäger 2017).
These phytochemical compounds have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity,
stimulate insulin secretion, increase peripheral glucose uptake, inhibit hepatic
glycogenolysis, exert antioxidant effects, inhibit hepatic glycogenolysis, and
potentiate endogenous incretins. Glycogenolysis and the enhancement of endogenous incretins are some pharmacological mechanisms of these herbs. Currently,
there is biological knowledge about the specifications and the process of action in
the treatment of diabetes of medicinal plants. Polyphenols are the compounds that
we find mostly in fruits, vegetables, cereals, and most foods. Polyphenol amounts
are specific to each food. The products with the highest amounts of polyphenols are
spices, dried herbs, cocoa, purple or red berries and seeds, which can even contain
200–300 mg per 100 g. Epicatechin and catechin monomers or oligomers of epicatechin and/or catechin (procyanidins) and flavan-3-ols have various beneficial
effects such as possible effects to improve insulin resistance (Ghorbani et al. 2019).
Rowley et al. (2017) demonstrated in a clinical analysis that catechins improve the
cellular redox state. Thus, migration of Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related
factor-2) to the nucleus is stimulated, key genes for mitochondrial respiration are
regulated, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is increased, and beta-cell function is
improved as a result (Fu et al. 2016). On the other hand, they also beneficially
modulate the concentrations of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and
TNF(Tumor necrosis factor-alpha) in blood mononuclear cells, regulate NF-kappaB
(Nuclear factorkappa B), and IL-1beta (interleukin-1-beta), thus considerably
increasing the stimulated Akt phosphorylation (Fu et al. 2016; Matzinger et al.
2018). Insulin resistance is a cause, at least in part, of endothelial dysfunction.
Therefore, flavonoids improve endothelial dysfunction, stimulate the elevation of
NO (Nitric oxide) bioavailability, therefore, protect the vascular endothelium and
548
S. N. Jimenez-Garcia et al.
and hyperglycemia (Perry et al. 2014). For many years of research, insulin resistance mechanisms remain a focal point of study and the ability to maintain glycemic
homeostasis improves the progression and severity of diabetes mellitus, for this
reason, drugs that include oral antidiabetic agents are used, insulin and others like
incretin to control blood homeostasis (Chen et al. 2019a). Medicinal plants have
been used for many years to treat various diseases. The use of these medicinal
plants alone or in combination with other medicinal plants is currently known as an
alternative therapy for the treatment of chronic-degenerative diseases such as DM
using phytochemical compounds and the bioactivity of medicinal plants (Engin
et al. 2018). Plants can have many phytochemical compounds with an effect on
various metabolic pathways. On the other hand, the bioactive compounds of
medicinal plants and the antidiabetic, anti-hyperglycemic, and hypoglycemic
potential have been reviewed in various investigations in different models in the
long or short term, as well as these can be used in conjunction with pharmacological
drugs (Martín and Ramos 2017). Table 15.5 shows the compounds with antidiabetic potential such as bitter gourd, ginger, turmeric, black cumin, cinnamon, garlic,
green tea, among others. The most common compounds found in these medicinal
plants are anthocyanins, quercetin, cinnamaldehyde, curcumin, catechins, S-methyl
cysteine sulfoxide, and oleoresin A among others (Beidokhti and Jäger 2017).
These phytochemical compounds have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity,
stimulate insulin secretion, increase peripheral glucose uptake, inhibit hepatic
glycogenolysis, exert antioxidant effects, inhibit hepatic glycogenolysis, and
potentiate endogenous incretins. Glycogenolysis and the enhancement of endogenous incretins are some pharmacological mechanisms of these herbs. Currently,
there is biological knowledge about the specifications and the process of action in
the treatment of diabetes of medicinal plants. Polyphenols are the compounds that
we find mostly in fruits, vegetables, cereals, and most foods. Polyphenol amounts
are specific to each food. The products with the highest amounts of polyphenols are
spices, dried herbs, cocoa, purple or red berries and seeds, which can even contain
200–300 mg per 100 g. Epicatechin and catechin monomers or oligomers of epicatechin and/or catechin (procyanidins) and flavan-3-ols have various beneficial
effects such as possible effects to improve insulin resistance (Ghorbani et al. 2019).
Rowley et al. (2017) demonstrated in a clinical analysis that catechins improve the
cellular redox state. Thus, migration of Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related
factor-2) to the nucleus is stimulated, key genes for mitochondrial respiration are
regulated, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is increased, and beta-cell function is
improved as a result (Fu et al. 2016). On the other hand, they also beneficially
modulate the concentrations of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and
TNF(Tumor necrosis factor-alpha) in blood mononuclear cells, regulate NF-kappaB
(Nuclear factorkappa B), and IL-1beta (interleukin-1-beta), thus considerably
increasing the stimulated Akt phosphorylation (Fu et al. 2016; Matzinger et al.
2018). Insulin resistance is a cause, at least in part, of endothelial dysfunction.
Therefore, flavonoids improve endothelial dysfunction, stimulate the elevation of
NO (Nitric oxide) bioavailability, therefore, protect the vascular endothelium and
548
S. N. Jimenez-Garcia et al.