Harnessing the Therapeutic Potential of Plants and Plant-Derived Constituents in Diabetic Neuropathy: Recent Advances and Challenges

Abstract

Abstract:: Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) stands as one of the most deleterious consequences of prolonged hyperglycemia, affecting an estimated 50% of individuals with diabetes during their lifetime. Despite the prominent role of oxidative stress and inflammatory pathogenesis in DN, its precise etiology remains elusive. This study explores the recent strides in the field of plant interventions for DN, shedding light on promising avenues while navigating through existing challenges. A comprehensive search of the literature was carried out using keywords related to diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, herbal medicine, plant extracts, phytoconstituents, and diabetic complications. The search was conducted across different reputable scientific databases, including Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and others. It has been observed that the antioxidant properties of plants and plant-derived constituents, especially the phenolic constituents, coupled with their impact on inflammatory cytokines, opioid receptors, nerve conduction velocity, and glial activation, exhibited potential in ameliorating impaired nerve function through modulation of oxidative stress markers. Behavioral parameters, including mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, allodynia, and tactile allodynia, demonstrated notable improvement following the oral administration of these plant interventions in in vivo animal models. Despite the promising outcomes, challenges persist, encompassing a limited understanding of precise mechanisms, variability in study designs, and a dearth of robust clinical evidence. The study underscores the imperative for comprehensive research, standardization, and rigorous clinical testing to fully unlock the therapeutic potential of herbal interventions in the management of DN.