Abstract

During pregnancy, insulin resistance increase over time. So in the last four months of the pregnancy, insulin resistance upsurges significantly and can become severe, specifically in women with gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Various factors including placental hormones, obesity, and inactivity, an unhealthy nourishment, and inherited and epigenetic influences negatively impacts insulin resistance in pregnancy, but the causal mechanisms are multifaceted and still not completely elucidated. Therefore in this review, we seek to identify among antidiabetic plants usually used in Cameroon those which can regulate insulin resistance in pregnant women, with diabetes. To achieve this objective a literature search was performed in Google, Google Scholar and PubMed, using the key “plants improving insulin sensitivity or insulin resistance in gestational diabetes”. The phytochemicals with insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity of recorded antidiabetic plants and their action mechanisms were compared with those of antidiabetic plants regularly used In Cameroon. The phytochemicals and their active mechanisms were searched using the keys «what is a given compound) chemical group(s). A list of Cameroonian known antidiabetic plants improving insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance were established. Nineteen (19) antidiabetic medicinal plants usually castoff in Cameroon have been reported to have a beneficial effect on insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance with regard to the presence of molecules which improve insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance in their chemical composition. Finally, well-chemical study, well mechanisms elucidation and well-designed randomized controlled trials with lasting consumption are still required to assure the bioactivity and safety of these medicinal plants and compounds for gestational diabetic patients.

Keywords: Type 1; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Gestational diabetes; Antidiabetic activity; Herbal medicines; Insulin insensitivity; Previous mechanisms of action

Abbreviations: PCOS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; BMI: Body Mass Index; HCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin; HPL: Human Placental Lactogen; HPCH: Human Placental Growth Hormone; InsR-α: Insulin Receptor α; IRS-1: Insulin Receptor Substrate-1; PI3K: Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; AMPK: Adenosine Monophosphate Activated Protein Kinase; ACC: Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase; MAPKs: Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; PPARγ: Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; GLUT: Glucose Transporter; PTP1B: Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B; TNF: Tumor Necrosis Factor; TZDs: Thiazolidinediones; CAMP: Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; SIRT1 (Sirtuin 1): Silent Information Regulator 1; NAFLD: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; LPS: Lipopolysaccharide; ALI: Acute Lung Injury; NO: Nitric Oxide: MODS: Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome; CR: Calorie or Dietary Restriction, SIRT2: Silent Information Regulator 2