Diabetes is a deteriorating metabolic ailment which negatively affects different organs; however, its prime target is insulin secreting pancreatic β-cells. Although, different medications have been affirmed for diabetes management and numerous drugs are undergoing clinical trials, no significant breakthrough has yet been achieved. Available drugs either show some side effects or provide only short-term alleviation. The rationales behind the failure of current anti-diabetic treatment strategy are association of complex patho-physiologies and participation of various organs. Consequently, there is a critical need to search for multi-effect drugs that might impede various patho-physiological mechanisms related to diabetes. Fortunately, one natural compound could act on several diabetes linked targets. Thus, natural compounds might be regarded as a viable alternative choice to improve the progression as well as side effects of diabetes. Despite the fact that immense literatures are available on natural compounds indicating promising outcomes against diabetes, more systematic studies are still needed to establish them as effective anti-diabetic agents. Till date, we are unable to access all the information regarding modes of action, toxicity risks and physicochemical properties of anti-diabetic natural compounds on one platform. Hence, anti-diabetic natural compounds database (ADNCD) has been created to categorize each anti-diabetic natural compound on the basis of their mode of action and to provide compendious information of their physicochemical properties and toxicity risks. In short, ADNCD has imperative information for the researchers working in the field of diabetes drug development.
Keywords: Anti-diabetic drugs; Anti-diabetic natural compounds; Diabetes; Hyperglycaemia; Pancreatic β-cells.