Antidiabetic and Hypoglycaemic Activities of Commonly Used African Traditional Vegetables

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a common and complex metabolic disorder associated with high blood glucose levels leading to complications. Adopting a sedentary lifestyle characterized by low physical activity and consumption of high-energy diets contributes to the development of diabetes mellitus. Lifestyle changes and the use of pharmacological agents that target particular biochemical pathways involved in nutrient metabolism are currently used as management guidelines for managing risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus. The use of prescription medications for an extended period is linked to several negative side effects. Alternative management strategies of risk factors linked to diabetes mellitus involve the use of African leafy vegetables. African leafy vegetables contain a variety of biologically active compounds that provide health benefits. These crops have the potential to be a valuable source of new oral hypoglycemic agents for diabetes management. This review analyses the antidiabetic activities of nine African leafy vegetables whilst also defining the gap areas for future research. Methods: Data was acquired via electronic search engines of which only peer-reviewed papers published in journals were considered. Results: African traditional vegetables showed diverse in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activities. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to document and use the knowledge of African leafy vegetables that have potential in the treatment and management of diabetes mellitus.