Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder with grievous pathophysiological complications which affect various parts of the body and manifesting in different ways which include acute and chronic neuropathy, nephropathy, gastropathy, retinopathy, micro and macro cardiovascular disorders and erectile dysfunction. Incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus is fast becoming high in middle and low income countries where about 80% of people living in those countries depend on orthodox medicine. Numerous and varied reports abound in literature on studies conducted to investigate the ameliorative effects of medicinal plants on various pathophysiological complications of diabetes mellitus. This report therefore presents a review of the effects of medicinal plants on the complications of diabetes mellitus stating the components of the plants responsible for these effects and the possible mechanisms.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, medicinal plants, diabetic complications, neuropathy, nephropathy, gastropathy, retinopathy, cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidaemia, erectile dysfunction.