Polyherbal Orodispersible Films: An Emerging Herbal Strategy for Effective Diabetes Management

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia resulting from impaired insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The increasing global prevalence of diabetes highlights the need for safe, effective, and patient-friendly therapeutic approaches. Herbal medicines have gained significant attention because of their antidiabetic potential, lower incidence of adverse effects, and long history of traditional use. Medicinal plants such as Momordica charantia, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Emblica officinalis, Syzygiumcumini, and Costus igneus contain bioactive phytochemicals that improve glycemic control through multiple mechanisms, including enhanced insulin secretion, improved insulin sensitivity, antioxidant activity, and inhibition of carbohydrate metabolism. Oral dispersible films (ODFs) represent an innovative drug delivery system that rapidly dissolves in the oral cavity without the need for water, improving patient compliance, particularly among pediatric and geriatric populations. The combination of polyherbal extracts with ODF technology offers a promising strategy for rapid drug release, improved bioavailability, ease of administration, and better therapeutic outcomes. This review highlights the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus, commonly used antidiabetic medicinal plants, formulation methods of polyherbal ODFs, their advantages, and future perspectives. Polyherbal ODFs have the potential to become an effective and patient-friendly alternative for diabetes management by integrating traditional herbal medicine with advanced pharmaceutical drug delivery systems.