Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Derived Abscisic Acid and Use in Diabetes

Plenty of plants from different regions of the world have been investigated for antidiabetic effects. In the past few years, some of the new bioactive drugs isolated from plants showed antidiabetic activity with more efficacy than oral hypoglycemic agents used in clinical therapy. Researchers are exploring the possibilities offered by complementary and alternative medicine, such as traditional herbal medicine. This chapter was designed to report in particular the hypoglycemic properties of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)) according to traditional medicine and reliable clinical and laboratory evidence. Different parts of the okra fruit (mucilage, seed, and pods) contain certain important bioactive components, in particular abscisic acid, which confer its medicinal properties.