Sains Malaysiana 42(10)(2013): 1431–1438 Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Diabetes in Manisa, Turkey (Tinjauan Etnobotani bagi Tumbuhan Ubatan yang Digunakan dalam Rawatan Kencing Manis di Manisa, Turki) C. DURMUŞKAHYA & M. ÖZTÜRK* ABSTRACT In this study, medicinal plants which are traditionally used for treatment of diabetes mellitus in Manisa and its environs have been investigated. A detailed market survey and ethnobotanical enquiry was performed in the region. In all, 121 medicinal herb dealers were interviewed together with the patients suffering from diabetes. After questionnaire studies, plant specimens were collected from medicinal herb markets known locally as ‘aktars’ or ‘baharatchi’, a total of 27 plant taxa belonging to 15 families were identifed to be used for the treatment of diabetes. These taxa mostly belonged to the families Rosaceae (5 taxa), Lamiaceae (3 taxa), Fabaceae (2 taxa) and Asteraceae (2 taxa). The most important anti- diabetic plants are; Zizyphus jujube Mill. (jujube), Origanum onites L. (oregano), Ceracus mahaleb L. (mahaleb) and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek). Attempts are being made to investigate their active compounds responsible for the hypoglycemic activity. Keywords: Diabetes; ethnobotany; Manisa; medicinal plants; Turkey ABSTRAK Dalam kajian ini tumbuhan ubatan yang digunakan secara tradisi bagi rawatan kencing manis di Manisa dan kawasan sekitarnya telah dikaji. Suatu tinjauan pasaran yang terperinci dan pertanyaan etnobotani telah dijalankan di rantau itu. Sejumlah 121 penjual herba ubatan telah ditemu duga bersama dengan pesakit yang mengidap kencing manis. Selepas kajian soal selidik spesimen tumbuhan diambil dari pasar herba ubatan yang dikenali sebagai ‘aktars’ atau ‘baharatchi’, sejumlah 27 takson tumbuhan tergolong kepada 15 famili telah dikenal pasti digunakan bagi rawatan kencing manis. Takson ini kebanyakannya tergolong dalam famili Rosaceae (5 takson), Lamiaceae (3 takson), Fabaceae (2 takson) dan Asteraceae (2 takson). Tumbuhan anti-kencing manis yang terpenting ialah; Zizyphus jujube Mill. (jujube), Origanum onites L. (oregano), Ceracus mahaleb L. (mahaleb) dan Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek). Percubaan telah diambil untuk meneliti sebatian aktif yang bertanggungjawab bagi kegiatan hipoglisemia. Kata kunci: Etnobotani; kencing manis; Manisa; tumbuhan ubatan; Turki INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non- communicable diseases. It is one of the major killer of mankind and is rapidly becoming a global health crisis. There are nearly 285 million (6.6% of population aged 20-79 years) diabetic patients across the globe. In 2005, nearly 1.1 million people died worldwide due to this disease. It is estimated that the number of diabetes patients will reach 450 million in 2030 with 97% showing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T 2 DM; non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) (Israili 2010, 2011). A large number of the patients are prediabetic (with impaired glucose intolerance and insulin resistance) (Israili 2010). Latter is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, together with other complications (acute metabolic -ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar non-ketotic syndrome), macrovascular (coronary, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease) and microvascular (peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy) all being a major cause for hospitalization and ever increasing fnancial burden on the society (Israili 2010). Many antidiabetic drugs have been developed and are used globally in managing hyperglycemia in T 2 DM. (Israili 2011). Therapy with conventional drugs typically becomes less effective over time and more than 50% of patients with diabetes do not achieve current glycemic goals (Israili 2010). Majority of the patients are not treated well because current treatments have many shortcomings, including safety and tolerability issues and inconvenience of the dose of medicine given. As such, the issue of diabetes is one of the most important in human health that need to be studied. According to a recent report obesity and diabetes rates in Turkey have risen over the last 13 years (Satman et al. 2002). The percentage of diabetics has gone up from 5