Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by impaired regulation of blood sugar levels, which can lead to serious complications such as cardiovascular, renal, and neurological problems. The disease is on the rise due to unhealthy lifestyle habits, poor nutrition, and genetic factors. In this context, the use of medicinal plants and plant-based antioxidants has gained attention as a natural approach for managing and controlling diabetes. The aim of this review is to provide an ethnobotanical report on the medicinal plants and plant antioxidants used for diabetes management in the central and eastern regions of Iran. This review study employed a systematic search of articles using keywords such as medicinal plants, ethnobotany, Iran, hypertension, North Khorasan, South Khorasan, Kerman, Sistan, Fars, Yazd, Markazi, Zanjan, Sistan, and Isfahan. Databases including Google Scholar, SID, MagIran, PubMed, and Scopus were searched. Relevant ethnobotanical studies were selected for review. The review revealed a variety of medicinal plants commonly used in the central and eastern regions of Iran for diabetes management. These include dill, chogha (a local herb), lettuce, mallow, olive, nettle, grape, wild onion, spand (a medicinal herb), brankasak, sepidar, kakanj, hawthorn, walnut, black cumin, date palm, wormwood, white mulberry, ziziphus, sumac, wild celery, and more. These plants possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are beneficial in managing diabetes. The present study shows that several medicinal plants in central and eastern Iran, particularly those with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, can aid in management of diabetes. These plants serve as natural therapeutic options for controlling blood sugar levels and ameliorating diabetes-related complications. It is recommended that further clinical studies be conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these plants in diabetes treatment, so they can be incorporated into complementary diabetes care. |
