EUGENIA JAMBOLANA LAM. (BLACK PLUM): A FUTURE SOURCE OF AN ANTIDIABETIC DRUG

Traditional medicine has been aware about and made use of “medicinal herbs,” for millennia. Numerous chemical compounds are produced by plants to serve a variety of purposes, including defence and protection against diseases and disorders. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are prevalent forms of DM, characterised by deficient insulin secretion (in T1DM) or impaired insulin action (in T2DM). Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is typically identified in the paediatric and adolescent population, whereas type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is more prevalent among middle-aged and elderly individuals. The latter group often exhibits chronically elevated blood glucose levels due to lifestyle and dietary choices that are deemed detrimental to health. The black plum, or Eugenia jambolana Lam. (syn) Syzigium cumini (L.) skeels, is a medicinal plant widely used in various alternative Indian medical systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Homoeopathy. The utilisation of this plant has demonstrated efficacy in managing diabetes mellitus, mitigating inflammation, healing ulcers, and alleviating symptoms of diarrhoea. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the presence of antineoplastic, chemopreventive, radioprotective, antioxidant, antimicrobial properties. This review article summarises the therapeutic potential of Eugenia jambolana Lam for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus based on recently published experimental studies.