Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Diabetes

Although diabetes was identified by a Greek physician, Aretaeus of Cappadocia, about 2,000 years ago, this old disease remains incurable. Diabetes is characterized by insulin deficiency, insulin resistance, and aberrant glucose, protein, and lipid metabolism. Genetic and environmental factors are the primary causes of diabetes. It is estimated that about 300 million people globally are afflicted with this disease. However, current oral antidiabetic agents using orthodox medicine have unmet efficacy and undesirable side effects in patients, leading to the development of microvascular and macrovascular complications. Research and development of new remedies for diabetes are, therefore, in great demand. It is estimated that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used by 80% of the world population for primary health care. Therefore CAM, including herbal medicines, acupuncture, moxibustion, and other therapies, represents an important area of exploration for diabetes therapy. In this special issue, we aimed to gather together updated information reflecting the considerable progress in basic and clinical research into CAM for diabetes and its complications. The papers in this special issue cover a wide range of topics, including in vitro studies, preclinical studies, and clinical trials on CAM for diabetes and related diseases. One in vitro study by S.-C. Chang and W.-C. V. Yang titled " Hyperglycemia induces altered expressions of angio-genesis associated molecules in the trophoblast " describes the expression of perlecan and angiogenesis-related cytokines and growth factors in trophoblasts, one type of placenta cells. High glucose affected the expression level of cell-bound perlecan, angiogenesis-associated cytokines, and the matrix degradation on the cells, implying that hyperglycemia influences vessel formation during placentation. A. Nachar et al. (" The action of antidiabetic plants of the Canadian James Bay Cree traditional pharmacopeia on key enzymes of hepatic glucose homeostasis ") report the antidiabetic action of seven Canadian plants as evidenced by glucose-6-phosphatase and glycogen synthase, two key enzymes, respectively, involved in gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis in hepatocytes. Among them, Abies balsamifera and Picea glauca decreased glucose-6-phosphatase activity. This decrease involved the Akt and AMPK pathways. In contrast, Larix laricina and A. balsam-ifera increased glycogen synthase activity. Preclinical studies were used to study the action and mechanism of CAM in rodents. Diabetes arises from a defect in í µí»½ cell functions and insulin resistance. A small flavone-type molecule, swertisin, found in Enicostemma littorale was tested for its ability to promote the generation of pancreatic islets. N. Dadheech et al. (" A small molecule swertisin …