Indigenous drugs in ischemic heart disease in patients with diabetes.
BACKGROUND
India is currently facing the silent epidemic of ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, and stroke. Both diabetes and ischemic heart disease appear in Indian people a decade earlier compared to whites. The recent evidence that certain medicinal plants possess hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, and immunomodulating properties on account of their rich flavonoid and/or other glucose-lowering active constituents merits scientific scrutiny in this regard.


OBJECTIVE
The present communication aims to give a brief review of those plants that could be useful in T2DM associated with hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and/or dyslipidemia.


METHODS
Aegle marmelos (bael), Allium sativum (garlic), Curcuma domestica (turmeric), Eugenia jambolana (jamun), Murraya koenigii (curry leaves), Trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek), and Terminalia arjuna (arjun) have been found to be useful in diabetes associated with ischemic heart disease. Their active biomolecules have been identified. They have also been demonstrated to be safe in long-term use.


CONCLUSIONS
Further clinical research regarding their potency and efficacy vis-à-vis oral hypoglycemics needs to done.
Dwivedi
Shridhar
S
Department of Medicine/Preventive Cardiology, University College of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi and GTB Hospital, Delhi, India.
Aggarwal
Amitesh
A
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005419:Flavonoids; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts