Developing novel anti-diabetic drugs for geriatric population: prospecting for lead compounds among botanical formulations of traditional medicine

Diabetes has attained pandemic proportions since decades and the trend of its spread shows no sign of receding. Other than high morbidity and mortality, diabetes and its complications causes tremendous cost to the individual, family, and governments. Definite causes of diabetes are not defined though there are numerous pathways described as leading to the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas and development of insulin resistance. Single agents and combination therapies are able to achieve target glycemic goals for limited periods of time and only in a subset of patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. There is renewed interest in multi-ingredient synergistic formulations for management of polygenic syndromes and conditions like diabetes. Drug discovery and development should be explored among rationally designed, carefully standardized, synergistic traditional herbal formulations and botanical drug products with robust scientific evidence. There are many Ayurvedic drugs available in the Indian market, claiming effective management for diabetes. Drug discovery is a process involving humongous cost, effort and time. Any lead followed in this direction needs to be selected with great scrutiny and caution.