Ethnobotanical Survey on the Plants used by Traditional Health Practitioners in the Management of Diabetes mellitus in Himachal Himalaya

Background: Diabetes mellitus is an increasing chronic health problem and more than 80 percent of the deaths due to diabetes occur in low and middle-income countries. Majority of the Himalayan communities relies on indigenous system of medicine and traditional health practitioners for meeting their healthcare requirements. Objective: To document the ethno-medicinal plants used by the traditional health practitioners for managing Diabetes mellitus, which can give impetus to the pharmaceutical industry for discovering new drugs. Methods: Data was collected by using semi-structured open and close-ended questionnaires. A total of 30 folk herbalists of both genders, were interviewed (individually or jointly). Enquiries were made with regard to the plants used regularly or occasionally for curing diabetes. Interviewees were asked about the vernacular names of plants, method of usage and mode of administration of herbal preparation. Observations: Traditional herbalists have a well-grounded knowledge on the plants associated with the treatment of diabetes. 23 plant species belonging to 21 genera and 18 families reported to have hypoglycemic activity. The most frequently cited species were from Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Combretaceae and Apocynaceae families. Currently, the information on the medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes in Himachal Himalaya is limited. Conclusion: The present findings are significant in managing the diabetes and can contribute for effective use of herbs in future pharmaceutical development.