title: Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in the management of diabetes mellitus in the Urmia, Northwest Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To collect and document information on anti-diabetic plants traditionally used in the treating of diabetes in Urmia at Northwest Iran because ethnomedicines are considered as valuable sources to find new potential drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the method of direct observation and interview (35 traditional healers) along with gathering herbarium specimens mentioned plants in site.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 30 medicinal plants from 17 families for the treatment of diabetes. The family with most plants was Lamiaceae (20%). Leaves (20%) are often used and its form is decoction (70%). It was also found that Citrullus colocynthis has the most frequency of use among traditional healers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Furthermore, base on current findings many of the mentioned plants have potential active ingredients to influence diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahmani
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center and Department of Traditional Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Arman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zargaran
authors.affiliation: Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. Electronic address: rafieian@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafieian-Kopaei
authors.affiliation: Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saki
keywords: Diabetes; Ethnomedicine; Iran; Urmia