Abstract: Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. Controlling and lowering blood glucose is an effective way to treat diabetes. Discovering and developing natural plant-derived active ingredients superior to traditional antidiabetic agents and exploring their hypoglycemic effects and mechanisms are of great significance for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. This paper analyzes the ingredients and potency of the traditional Chinese patent medicines commonly used for lowering blood glucose. Plant-derived volatile (essential oils, active monomer components) and non-volatile (polysaccharides, saponins, polyphenols and alkaloids) ingredients with hypoglycemic activity are reviewed with respect to their potency and mechanism of action as well as the experimental models used in this regard. It is expected that this review could provide a theoretical basis for the application of plant-derived hypoglycemic ingredients to defend against diabetes.

Key words: plant extracts; non-volatile substances; volatile substances; hypoglycemic; mechanism of action