Effects of Chrysanthemi Flos against diabetes and its complications related to insulin resistance

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is now one of the most significant lifelong metabolic disorders in the world and the occurrence of DM in Asian countries is disproportionately high. Epidemiological evidence suggests that, without effective prevention and control programs, diabetes will likely continue to increase globally. Diabetologists have started to look for new and better therapeutic management of DM and its associated complications using alternative and/or complementary therapies. Diet plays a major role in preventing and managing DM, and their various interactions in dietary intakes play important roles in the prevention and management of DM. Chrysanthemi Flos (CF) is the flower of Chrysanthemum indicum Linne or C. morifolium Ramatuelle. CF has been widely used for thousands of years as a healthy food for headache, eye diseases, heat clearing, detoxification, and ailments including analgesic, antipyretic, antiinflammatory, and antihypertensive. The detailed identification of the activities of CF offers a potential benefit in the treatment of DM and prevention of its complications. This chapter discusses the antidiabetic effects of CF involving hyperglycemia and oxidative stress.