A Review on the Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants

Authors : Razan Bushnak ; Mohamad El Hajj ; Ali Jaber

DOI : doi.org/10.47752/sjmh.44.172.189

Abstract:
Diabetes mellitus has long been seen as a substantial economic burden on patients, their families, and society. Impairment in blood sugar regulation has major health repercussions. Furthermore, untreated diabetes causes major chronic complications like blindness, renal failure, and heart failure, as well as an increase in associated mortality. New anti-diabetic medicines are being researched to help alleviate this issue. Conventional Anti-diabetic medications are beneficial, several synthetic drugs are available in the market to treat diabetes, but they are costly and come with inevitable adverse effects. Medicinal plants, on the other hand, may serve as an alternate source of anti-diabetic agents. According to the World Health Organization, 80 % of the population in underdeveloped nations still relies on traditional medicines or folk medicines, which are largely made from plants, for disease prevention or treatment. For instance, anti- proliferative, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic effects.  In order to find a natural anti-diabetic source that comes with less side effects, several studies have been conducted. The aim of this work is to review these studies and highlight the potential of plants when it comes to their anti-diabetic effect.

The Incidence of Bacterial Isolates Among Dental Caries Patients Attending Clinic At Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria

Authors : Orhue O. Philips ; Omoregie Timothy ; Idehen I. Charlse ; Iserhienrhien Osamuyimen

DOI : doi.org/10.47752/sjmh.44.166.171

Abstract:
Despite the global public health importance of dental caries, it is greatly understudied. This study investigates the incidence and prevalent bacteria species in dental carries among patients attending dental clinic in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria. Patients presenting with signs, symptoms and suspected cases of dental caries attending dental clinic in the hospital between May and July 2017 were recruited. Following standard laboratory procedures, swabs were obtained, morphologically and biochemically analyzed and data subjected to simple statistical analysis. Of the 340 suspected cases, 65.59% were positive for bacteria (25.11% in children and 74.89% in adult). Females were more likely (1.23 times) to be affected and 2.98 times more common in adults than children. The prevalent bacteria isolated was Streptococcus mutans (151; 67.7%), Streptococcus sobrinus (36; 16.4%), Lactobacillus acidophilus (22; 9.9%), Streptococcus salivarius (10; 4.5%) and lastly Streptococcus mitis (4; 1.8%). Biochemical characterization showed isolated Streptococus and Lactobacillus species were non-motile and negative to catalase, citrate, oxidase, indole and urease tests. This study showed the incidence of dental caries is high in the study area and that Streptococcus mutans is the most causative bacteria.