The use of herbal medicine is traditionally rooted in India and still an essential part of public healthcare. In recent times, a radically increasing incidence brought Diabetes mellitus and its therapy to the focus of public health interests in India. The current study focuses on the exploration of ethnomedicinal knowledge of plants used against diabetes by the tribes of Gajapati district of Odisha. Preparations of information of the anti-diabetic plants were recorded by the help of the tribes of the district namely Savara, Shaber, Lodha and Kandha. Documentation of aboriginal knowledge related to anti-diabetic properties of native plants was made by interaction with local traditional medicine men. A total of 66 species belonging to 29 families were recorded as being used for the treatment of diabetes in the area under study. The most frequently mentioned plants were Aegle marmelos, Andrographis paniculata, Asparagus racemosus, Azadirachta indica, Clerodendrum philippinum, Cucurma longa, Gymnema sylvestre, Helicteres isora, Hemidesmus indicus, Hybanthus enneaspermus, Pterocarpus marsupium and Woodfordia fructicosa. Most of the herbal preparations of plants used against diabetes were prepared from leaves followed by roots and fruits. However, the available data regarding the anti-diabetic activity of some plants identified in this survey is not sufficient to recommend their use. Pharmacological investigation and clinical intervention studies are required to provide evidence for a safe and effective use of the identified plants in the treatment of diabetes.
A Wed, study studied this question.