Antidiabetic Constituents from Helminthostachys zeylanica (L) Hook (Ophioglossaceae)

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder due to insulin resistance or decreased production of insulin by the beta cells of the pancreas. The World Health Organization reported that the worldwide prevalence of diabetes was expected to increase to 642 million by the year 2040, with many new cases of diabetes occurring in developing countries, especially in Asia. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for more than 90% of total diabetes cases. α-Glucosidase is an enzyme that plays an important role in the absorption of glucose in the gastrointestinal tract. Inhibiton of this enzyme activity can reduce blood glucose levels and preventing postprandial hyperglycemia in patients with T2DM.1 Antidiabetic medications can improve the health of T2DM patients. Currently, most of available antidiabetic drugs have side effects and are associated with the enhancement of diabetes related complications. Some α-glucosidase inhibitors have been successfully isolated from medicinal plants for the development of new drugs with increased potency and lower side effects than the existing drugs.