Abstract
Monoterpenes belong to the terpenoids class of natural products and are bio-synthesized through the mevalonic acid pathway. Their small molecular weight coupled with high non-polar nature make them the most abundant components of essential oils which are often considered to have some general antioxidant and antimicrobial effects at fairly high concentrations. These compounds are however reported to have antidiabetic effects in recent years. Thanks to the ingenious biosynthetic machinery of nature, they also display a fair degree of structural complexity/diversity for further consideration in structure-activity studies. In the present communication, the merit of monoterpenes as antidiabetic agents is scrutinized by assessing recent in vitro and in vivo studies reported in the scientific literature. Both the aglycones and glycosides of these compounds of rather small structural size appear to display antidiabetic along with antiobesity and lipid lowering effects. The diversity of these effects vis-à-vis their structures and mechanisms of actions are discussed. Some key pharmacological targets include the insulin signaling pathways and/or the associated PI3K-AKT (protein kinase B), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways; proinflammatory cytokines and the NF-κB pathway; glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver; glucagon-like-1 receptor (GLP-1R); among others.
Highlights
Several estimates on the current level of diabetes and its projected cases in the few decades have been made in recent years
As we are living in an era where more of the world population are suffering from consequences of excess calories than undernutrition, the cost of diabetes and obesity will remain the major social burden to societies in the few generations
Other classes of antidiabetic drugs include the α-glucosidase inhibitors that target carbohydrate digestion in the gut thereby limiting the availability of glucose taken up by the blood; the biguanides that suppress glucose release/production in the liver; the thiazolidinediones such as glitazones which increase the sensitivity of insulin target organs; the insulin secretagogue sulfonylureas and the meglitinides; the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptides (GLP-1) analogues; the DDP-4 inhibitors, among others [5]
Summary
Several estimates on the current level of diabetes and its projected cases in the few decades have been made in recent years. Other classes of antidiabetic drugs include the α-glucosidase inhibitors (e.g., acarbose, miglitol and voglibose) that target carbohydrate digestion in the gut thereby limiting the availability of glucose taken up by the blood; the biguanides (the metformin-like compounds) that suppress glucose release/production in the liver; the thiazolidinediones such as glitazones which increase the sensitivity of insulin target organs; the insulin secretagogue sulfonylureas and the meglitinides; the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptides (GLP-1) analogues; the DDP-4 inhibitors, among others [5] These drugs have numerous side effects including gastrointestinal complications and loss of efficacy after pronged usage [6,7]. Monoterpenes somehow unexpectedly, appears to be recognized as small molecules punching a lot more than their weight
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