Abstract
Diabetes is a metabolic syndrome characterized by inadequate blood glucose control and is associated with reduced quality of life and various complications, significantly shortening life expectancy. Natural phytochemicals found in plants have been traditionally used as medicines for the prevention of chronic diseases including diabetes in East Asia since ancient times. Many of these phytochemicals have been characterized as having few side effects, and scientific research into the mechanisms of action responsible has accumulated mounting evidence for their efficacy. These compounds, which may help to prevent metabolic syndrome disorders including diabetes, act through relevant intracellular signaling pathways. In this review, we examine the anti-diabetic efficacy of several compounds and extracts derived from medicinal plants, with a focus on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity.
Highlights
The incidence of metabolic syndrome disorders which include diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver, increases significantly with age in the world [1]
The levels of AMPactivated protein kinase (AMPK) expression and phosphorylation were restored when compared to the Areca nut procyanidin (ANP)-treated MLDSTZ-mice [54]. These findings indicate that ANP is effective in regulating blood glucose via gluconeogenesis-related enzymes and AMPK
According to the results of an evaluation of the anti-diabetic effects of a phenolic compound isolated from Ishige foliacea, it was reported that octaphlorethol A increased glucose uptake, promoted glut4 translocation to the plasma membrane, and increased Akt and AMPK activity in a cell model [71]
Summary
The incidence of metabolic syndrome disorders which include diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver, increases significantly with age in the world [1]. One consists of insulin being secreted from pancreatic cells and binding to the insulin receptor of the target cell due to increases in blood glucose concentrations, after which the insulin receptor is activated and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 activity is increased This activates the downstream phosphoinositide (PI)3-kinase and Akt signaling cascades, which in turn promotes the translocation of the glucose transporter to the cell wall and increases glucose uptake, resulting in an improvement in diabetic symptoms [10,11]. The phosphorylation of PGC-1α by AMPK is needed for the detection of the energy state following exercise and the regulation of the transcriptional programs that control glucose metabolism For this reason, AMPK activity is often a key mediator of the effects of ingredients derived from medicinal plants in the study of diabetes prevention
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