Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41029669›Full record

SynthesisBMC complementary medicine and therapies2025

The efficacy and safety of herbal medicines for glycaemic control and insulin resistance in individuals with type 2 diabetes: an umbrella review.

Ethan Li, Alison Maunder, Jing Liu, Chhiti Pandey, Adele Cave, Allana O'Fee, Carolyn Ee

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Efficacy and Safety ofFoods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Phytochemical Profile and Bioactive Potential ofCurrent issues in molecular biology · 2026
    Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ethan LiSchool of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Alison MaunderNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Jing LiuNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Chhiti PandeyNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Adele CaveNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Allana O'FeeNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Carolyn EeNICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia. c.ee@westernsydney.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThe global prevalence of diabetes is increasing rapidly. While glycaemic control remains the cornerstone of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) management, hypoglycaemic medications are associated with side effects. Many individuals with T2DM use herbal medicines despite potential risks. This review aims to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines for T2DM.

methodsFour electronic databases were searched from August 2018-August 2023 for umbrella reviews, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews on herbal medicine for T2DM. The primary outcome was glycaemic control assessed by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c); secondary outcomes included measures of insulin resistance, quality of life and adverse events. Quality assessment was performed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews Version 2 (AMSTAR 2) and certainty of evidence for the primary outcome was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

resultsEight meta-analyses and two systematic reviews were included. Ginger, turmeric, and Jinlida granules significantly decreased HbA1c compared to placebo (mean differences (MD): -0.467%, -0.486%, -0.283%, respectively) with moderate to high certainty evidence. Berberis vulgaris, Gegen Qinlian decoction and pycnogenol may potentially decrease HbA1c (very low certainty evidence). Ginger, turmeric, cardamom, Berberis vulgaris, Nigella sativa, and various Chinese herbal medicines demonstrated improvements in insulin resistance measures. However, overall confidence in these findings is limited due to the low to very low quality of the included reviews. Few mild adverse effects were reported, but data was incomplete.

conclusionsCurrent evidence supports the use of ginger and turmeric for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes, however, given the high clinical heterogeneity and low quality of the review, our confidence in this finding is somewhat limited. Herbal medicines should be used only as an adjunct to conventional treatment, with shared decision-making between clinicians and patients. Careful monitoring for hypoglycaemia is essential, particularly when herbal medicines are used concurrently with antidiabetic drugs, given a current lack of data on herb-drug interactions. Future research should clarify optimal regimens, safety profiles, and include diverse populations to enhance generalisability.

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2Glycemic ControlHypoglycemic AgentsInsulin ResistancePhytotherapyGlycated HemoglobinHumansGlycated HemoglobinHypoglycemic AgentsBlood glucoseComplementary medicineGlycemic controlHerbal medicineInsulin resistanceIntegrative medicineType 2 diabetesUmbrella review

Identifiers

PMID41029669
PMCPMC12481776

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.