Plants in the Prevention and Management of Diabetic Nephropathy: Ethnobotany to Evidence-Based Therapeutics

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by sustained albuminuria exceeding 300 mg per 24-hour urine collection and represents a major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Epidemiological data indicate that approximately one-third of patients with diabetes in the Asia-Pacific region develop nephropathy, which has emerged as the leading cause of end-stage renal disease globally. Traditional medicine systems, particularly those utilizing botanical interventions, have demonstrated potential therapeutic value in managing diabetic nephropathy. There is growing scientific interest in phytotherapeutic approaches, especially within Asian populations, where various culinary and medicinal plants—including Allium sativum (garlic), Curcuma longa (turmeric), Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and Ginkgo biloba—have shown preliminary evidence for beneficial effects in diabetes mellitus and its associated nephropathic complications.

Keywords:   Diabetic Nephropathy, Herbal Medicine