Flavonoids: Cellular and Molecular Mechanism of Action in Glucose Homeostasis

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of flavonoids focusing on carbohydrate metabolism. The beneficial effects of flavonoids have been studied in relation to diabetes mellitus, either through their capacity to avoid glucose absorption or to improve glucose tolerance. Furthermore, flavonoids stimulate glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, regulate the activity and/or expression of the rate-limiting enzymes in the carbohydrate metabolism pathway and act per se as insulin secretagogues or insulin mimetics, probably, by influencing the pleiotropic mechanisms of insulin signaling, to ameliorate the diabetes status.

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Glucose Utilization Activities of Three South African Plants Used Traditionally to Treat Diseases

“…The impairment in the regulation of blood glucose level may lead to an imbalance that may lead to hyperglycemia thus Type 2 diabetes necessitating proper management [41]. Polyphenols are plant chemicals that possess hypoglycemic potentials [45]. One mechanism through which this group of chemical modulate glucose metabolism is to stimulate the muscle and fat cells to increase their glucose utilization activities.…”

“…Although the mechanism by which the selected plants' extracts enhanced glucose utilization activities of the cells was not investigated, the limiting step of insulin stimulated the glucose uptake of muscle and fat is the translocation of GLUT4 transporters to the plasma membrane [49]. Studies showed that polyphenols are able to enhance the glucose utilization activity by either acting as insulin mimetic [50,51] or without affecting the insulin receptor autophosphorylation and/or transporter translocation to the plasma membrane [45]. One of these mechanisms might have been the action mode by which the plants' extracts enhanced the glucose utilization activities of the cells.…”

Antidiabetic Activity and Toxicological Evaluation of the Methanol-Dichloromethane Root Bark Extract of Nauclea Diderrichii (De Wild) Merr

“…The previous study has shown the presence of alkaloid, flavonoids, saponins and other chemical compounds in the plant extract [24]. Several of these constituents are well known for their antidiabetic activity [25,26]. This suggests that the antidiabetic activity of the extract may be partly due to the action of these phytoconstituents which could act synergistically or independently in reducing the blood glucose level.…”

Antihyperglycemic Studies on the Leaf Extract and Active Fractions of <i>Newbouldia laevis</i> (Bignoniaceae)

“…Flavonoids have been shown to possess remarkable hypoglycaemic effects which have been linked to their capacity to avoid glucose absorption or improve glucose tolerance [74]. It has been demonstrated that flavonoids act as insulin secretagogues or insulin mimetics, attenuate diabetic complications, stimulate glucose uptake in peripheral tissues and regulate the activity and/or expression of the rate limiting enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism [75]- [77].…”