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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

The Serra da Estrela Natural Park (NPSE) in Portugal stands out as a well-preserved region abundant in medicinal plants, particularly known for their pharmaceutical applications in diabetes prevention and treatment. This comprehensive review explores these plants’ botanical diversity, traditional uses, pharmacological applications, and chemical composition. The NPSE boast a rich diversity with 138 medicinal plants across 55 families identified as traditionally and pharmacologically used against diabetes globally. Notably, the Asteraceae and Lamiaceae families are prevalent in antidiabetic applications. In vitro studies have revealed their significant inhibition of carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, and certain plant co-products regulate genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and insulin secretion. In vivo trials have demonstrated antidiabetic effects, including glycaemia regulation, insulin secretion, antioxidant activity, and lipid profile modulation. Medicinal plants in NPSE exhibit various activities beyond antidiabetic, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and more. Chemical analyses have identified over fifty compounds like phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and polysaccharides responsible for their efficacy against diabetes. These findings underscore the potential of NPSE medicinal plants as antidiabetic candidates, urging further research to develop effective plant-based antidiabetic drugs, beverages, and supplements.

Details

Title
Overview of Ethnobotanical–Pharmacological Studies Carried Out on Medicinal Plants from the Serra da Estrela Natural Park: Focus on Their Antidiabetic Potential
Author
Radhia Aitfella Lahlou 1 ; Carvalho, Filomena 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Maria João Pereira 2 ; Lopes, João 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Silva, Luís R 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 SPRINT Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center, Instituto Politécnico da Guarda, 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal; [email protected] (R.A.L.); [email protected] (F.C.) 
 CERENA/DER, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal; [email protected] 
 iMed.ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, University of Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; [email protected] 
 SPRINT Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center, Instituto Politécnico da Guarda, 6300-559 Guarda, Portugal; [email protected] (R.A.L.); [email protected] (F.C.); CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal; CERES, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal 
First page
454
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
19994923
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3047035318
Copyright
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.