Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by the
destruction of pancreatic β cells or reduced insulin secretion and action, and is one of
the most common health problems worldwide. Its incidence is increasing at a high rate,
resulting in enormous social costs. Various drugs show their effectiveness by
improving insulin sensitivity, and reducing glucose production in the liver or other
tissues. Several preclinical studies on diabetes-induced in animals using surgical,
pharmacological or genetic methods demonstrated the effectiveness of these drugs. The
anti-diabetic activity of plants has been attributed to the occurrence of primary and
secondary metabolites characterized by many beneficial effects with advantages over
chemical treatments. A number of studies have demonstrated the potential health
benefits of phytocomponents in treating DM by acting on multiple molecular targets.
Therefore, it is important to test in vitro assays. This review includes methods for the
evaluation of preclinical anti-diabetic activities and summarizes the potential of natural
resources to prevent and/or treat diabetes. In addition, the database contains
information including the plant name, useful plant parts, active compounds, and their
mechanisms of action, in which in vitro and in vivo methods were studied.
Keywords: Anti-diabetic Activity, In vitro Assays, In vivo Assays, Natural Products, Preclinical Investigations, Mechanism.
