Research Progress of α-glucosidase Inhibitors of Medicinal and Edible Homologous Plants and Their use in the Treatment of Diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes is one of the common diseases in modern society, which cannot be cured. It has a significant impact on the lives of patients. Type II diabetes patients mainly rely on oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin injection to maintain blood sugar balance. While traditional hypoglycemic medications such as insulin, biguanides, and sulfonylureas may reduce blood glucose for a brief period of time, it often has some side effects and can lead to body dependence. Therefore, as a safe and economical natural hypoglycemic plant polysaccharide, it has received more and more attention. Natural active ingredients with glucosidase inhibitory activity from plants will become potential resources for research and treatment of type II diabetes. A large number of medicinal and food homologous plants have been identified as an important source of glucosidase inhibitors, and have received widespread attention. This article focuses on homologous medicinal and edible plant species and their application in diabetes treatment, here, we reviewed functional components with glucosidase inhibitory activity in homologous medicinal and edible plants and their state of research. In this paper, we hope to provide a theoretical benchmark for the development of drugs for type II diabetes from natural plants.