Background and objective: Diabetes mellitus is the third leading cause of death in Indonesia (6.7 %), followed by stroke (21.1 %) and coronary heart disease (12.9 %). The prevalence of diabetes worldwide continues to increase on a yearly basis, including in Indonesia. Diabetes is a significant burden for many countries due to the high costs of treatment and reduced productivity of diabetes patients. Comprehensive strategies to prevent and treat diabetes are therefore mandatory. Oral hypoglycemic drugs are the first-line therapy for diabetes mellitus patients; however, these oral drugs still have several side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct studies on medicinal plants with hypoglycemic effects to identify substances that have an anti-diabetic potential resembling physiological processes in the body. Indonesian people often use herbal medicines empirically, but the benefits have not been scientifically documented. Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon L.) is a native Indonesian gymnosperm plant, and the seeds are often processed into food. Melinjo seeds extract contains many polyphenols, including trans-resveratrol.
Conclusion: Studies on the health benefits of resveratrol are widely available, including antidiabetes and blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Keywords: Anti-diabetic; Gnetum gnemon L; melinjo seed extract; metabolism; resveratrol; type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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