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Review Finds 16 Traditional Medicinal Plants May Target Blood Sugar PathwaysA June 2026 review found that 16 medicinal plants used in traditional diabetes remedies may affect glucose control through related biological mechanisms, though researchers said most evidence remains limited to cell and animal studies.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A new scientific review has identified 16 medicinal plants with potential antidiabetic effects, finding that many appear to act on overlapping biological pathways involved in blood sugar regulation, insulin activity and oxidative stress.
The review, published June 3, 2026, in The Open Biochemistry Journal, examined plants traditionally used for diabetes and concluded that several contain natural compounds that may help lower glucose levels. However, the authors cautioned that the research remains largely preliminary.
“For most of the medicinal plants reviewed, clinical studies are currently lacking,” the authors wrote.
The review was led by Sara Ouari of the University Ferhat Abbes Setif 1 in Algeria and colleagues. The team evaluated existing research on plants including Gymnema sylvestre, commonly known as gymnema; white mulberry; red ginseng; pomegranate; Vernonia amygdalina, known as bitter leaf; and other species used across traditional medical systems in Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean.
Researchers searched Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar for studies published from 2000 through 2025. From more than 1,200 records, they selected 54 studies covering 16 plant species. The review focused on the chemical compounds found in those plants and the biological routes by which those compounds may reduce glucose.
According to the review, the plants’ active compounds included flavonoids, polyphenols and alkaloids. Those compounds were linked to three primary mechanisms.
The first mechanism involves slowing carbohydrate-digesting proteins in the gut, a process that may reduce blood sugar spikes after meals. The second involves improving insulin signaling, which may help cells take in glucose more effectively. The third involves antioxidant activity, which may protect cells from free-radical damage associated with diabetes and metabolic stress.
The review said extracts from pomegranate peel, peanut shells, red ginseng and bitter leaf strengthened the body’s natural antioxidant defenses in animal studies. White mulberry compounds were found to increase glucose uptake through two separate pathways.
Gymnema, white mulberry, red ginseng and pomegranate showed the strongest support across multiple animal studies and mechanistic analyses, according to the review. Gymnema was described as one of the most heavily studied plants in the group, with compounds linked to insulin release and protection of pancreatic cells.
The findings align with broader research into traditional plant-based remedies for diabetes. Researchers from Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences previously compiled a list of plants commonly used in traditional Persian medicine for diabetes, according to NaturalNews.com. Other research has noted that holy basil, a medicinal herb used in Ayurvedic medicine, has long been valued in Southeast Asia for a wide range of reported health benefits.
Earlier work published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that “many plant species have been validated for their antidiabetic properties and related complications,” while also calling for “extensive, large-population clinical studies.”
Bitter melon, another plant commonly used in traditional medicine, has also been examined for antidiabetic properties. A phytochemistry volume said bitter melon “has been widely used as a traditional medicine treatment for diabetic complications” and contains phytomolecules including lycopene and beta-carotene.
Additional preclinical research has examined combinations of plant extracts. A polyherbal formulation containing five medicinal plant extracts, including Aegle marmelos, known as Indian bael, and Murraya koenigii, known as curry tree, significantly reduced serum glucose in diabetic rats, according to a book on anti-diabetes plants by Appian Subramoniam.
Despite the promising findings, the review emphasized that most available evidence comes from cell cultures and laboratory animals rather than controlled human trials. The authors said differences in extraction methods, dosage levels and animal models make direct comparisons difficult.
They also noted that doses used in laboratory settings may be higher than what people would typically receive from herbal teas, foods or commercial supplements.
The review concluded that “well-designed human trials and standardized extracts… are needed before any of these plants can be turned into reliable therapies.”
Standardization remains a major obstacle for plant-based treatments. Books on phytochemistry have noted challenges including “absence of standardization procedures and quality control for herbal drugs used in clinical trials.” The review also pointed to natural variation in plant chemistry, which can depend on species, growing conditions, harvesting methods and preparation techniques.
The authors said the fact that plants from different traditional healing systems appear to affect similar biological targets supports further study. They called for controlled human trials, clearer dosing guidance and standardized extracts to determine whether any of the reviewed plants can be developed into safe and effective options for diabetes management.
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