Title:The Antidiabetic Therapeutic Potential of Dietary Polyphenols
VOLUME: 15 ISSUE: 4
Author(s):Solomon Habtemariam and George K. Varghese
Affiliation:Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Medway School of Science, University of Greenwich, Chatham-Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK.
Keywords:Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, diabetes, enzyme inhibition, fatty acids metabolism, glucose metabolism, polyphenols,
receptor modulation.
Abstract:Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic syndrome that is characterized by persistent hyperglycemia due
to either lack of insulin secretion and/or insulin resistance. The prevalence of T2D along with its major risk factor, obesity,
has been increasing with an epidemic proportion in recent years. To date, there is no drug of cure for diabetes and the
existing therapeutic approaches have serious drawbacks including side effects and loss of efficacy during prolonged use.
Dietary polyphenols are one group of natural products that have shown promise as potential antidiabetic agents. In this review,
their molecular mechanisms of action including, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, receptor agonist/antagonist effect
and modulation of key signal transduction cascades, glucose transport, enzyme activity, receptor agonistic/antagonist effect,
etc. in major insulin-sensitive cells are discussed.
