A Review Paper on Comparative in-vitro Diabetic Activity of Bitter Melon and Jamun in Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus encompasses a group of endocrine disorders marked by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Type 1 diabetes arises from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells, leading to absolute insulin deficiency, while Type 2 diabetes, accounting for over 90% of cases, involves insulin resistance coupled with relative insulin deficiency. Gestational diabetes and other specific types further diversify the spectrum. The International Diabetes Federation estimates over 500 million adults worldwide affected in 2021, with projections exceeding 700 million by 2045, driven by urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, and dietary shifts. Pathophysiologically, chronic hyperglycemia induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and advanced glycation end-products, culminating in microvascular complications like retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, alongside macrovascular issues such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues, particularly skeletal muscle and adipose, impairs glucose uptake via reduced GLUT4 translocation, while hepatic gluconeogenesis escalates unabated. β-cell dysfunction progresses, with amyloid deposition and lipotoxicity exacerbating insulin secretory failure. In vitro models, including insulin-resistant myotubes, hepatocyte cell lines, and adipocyte cultures, replicate these mechanisms, enabling precise evaluation of antidiabetic agents without systemic variables.