Models utilised in phytomedicine research for components of metabolic syndrome: A critical assessment of South African studies.
Aladejana, Adebowale Emmanuel Sandasi, Maxleene Viljoen, Alvaro
Aladejana, Adebowale Emmanuel
Sandasi, Maxleene
Viljoen, Alvaro
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Abstract
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial disorder that predisposes individuals to cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The growing prevalence of MetS in South Africa, as well as the demand for safer and more affordable treatment options, has led to an increase in the use of herbal remedies. Significant advances on medicinal plant research in South Africa have been made and this review highlights the progress on phytomedicine interventions targeted at treating MetS, outlining the models used, biomarkers assessed, instrumentation, toxicity testing, and the extent of compliance with ethical regulations. A bibliometrics analysis was conducted on 432 articles published between 1996 and 2022, sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. A steady increase in publication output was observed over the years, and the Journal of Ethnopharmacology and the South African Journal of Botany emerged as leading platforms for publishing majority of the research. Diabetes and obesity were the primary focus and both in vivo and in vitro models were used in the research. Research on cardiovascular and liver-related complications mainly employed in vivo models, while studies on pain and inflammation relied more on in vitro systems. Blood glucose was the most used biomarker in diabetes-related studies. In obesity and dyslipidaemia studies, lipid profiles and body weight were frequently assessed. Blood pressure was a significant parameter in cardiovascular studies, while alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was commonly used for liver function. Pain and inflammation studies used prostaglandin synthesis and cyclooxygenase inhibition as biological markers. Although many studies reported on the use of positive controls, a significant number did not include control groups. Furthermore, toxicity studies were not sufficiently detailed, highlighting the need for more comprehensive safety evaluations. Future research should include a wider range of experimental models, investigate more biomarkers and advanced techniques, and prioritise clinical trials, while maintaining ethical standards.
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Date
2025-07-11
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Elsevier
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Keywords
Bibliometrics, Cardiovascular disease, Metabolic syndrome, Phytomedicine, Type 2 diabetes