Natural Products as Outstanding Alternatives in Diabetes Mellitus: A Patent Review

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic syndrome that can be considered a growing health problem in the world. High blood glucose levels are one of the most notable clinical signs. Currently, new therapeutic alternatives have been tackled from clinicians’ and scientists’ points of view. Natural products are considered a promising source, due to the huge diversity of metabolites with pharmaceutical applications. Therefore, this review aimed to uncover the latest advances in this field as a potential alternative to the current therapeutic strategies for the treatment of DM. This purpose is achieved after a patent review, using the Espacenet database of the European Patent Office (EPO) (2016–2022). Final screening allowed us to investigate 19 patents, their components, and several technology strategies in DM. Plants, seaweeds, fungi, and minerals were used as raw materials in the patents. Additionally, metabolites such as tannins, organic acids, polyphenols, terpenes, and flavonoids were found to be related to the potential activity in DM. Moreover, the cellular transportation of active ingredients and solid forms with special drug delivery profiles is also considered a pharmaceutical technology strategy that can improve their safety and efficacy. From this perspective, natural products can be a promissory source to obtain new drugs for DM therapy.

The mechanism of action of Spirulina as antidiabetic: a narrative review

“…The mechanism of action underlying the antidiabetic effects of Spirulina-derived compounds is not completely understood, but several studies have identified potential mechanisms: i) insulin sensitization: Spirulina extracts have been shown to enhance insulin sensitivity in both animal models and human studies (Figure 1). This effect may be attributed to the presence of polysaccharides and phycocyanin, which improve glucose uptake and utilization by cells; 46 ii) inhibition of gluconeogenesis: Spirulina extracts have demonstrated the ability to inhibit hepatic gluconeogenesis, the process by which the liver produces glucose from non-carbohydrate sources. This inhibition could be due to the presence of gamma-linolenic acid and other fatty acids that regulate glucose metabolism; 47,48 iii) Antioxidant activity: Spirulina extracts are rich in antioxidants like phycocyanin, carotenoids, and vitamin E. These compounds scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, a major contributor to diabetes complications; iv) protein content and bioactive peptides: Spirulina has a high protein concentration (60-70% dry weight) and contains bioactive peptides derived from its protein content.…”

Beneficial Effects of Echinacoside on Cognitive Impairment and Diabetes in Type 2 Diabetic db/db Mice

“…According to clinical trials and in vitro and in vivo experiments, natural products from plants are promising for the prevention and management of T2D-related complications [14][15][16][17]. Cistanche tubulosa, the most commonly used tonic Chinese medicine, might alleviate AD and cerebral ischemic injuries [18][19][20].…”

Ameliorative Effects of Curcumin on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…Natural medicines have many advantages over traditional medicines, including fewer side effects, lower long-term toxicity, and varied bioavailability. Numerous studies have indicated that bioactive compounds from herbal medicine, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids, have beneficial effects on T2DM prevention and treatment, by improving glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and other related mechanisms [ 11 , 12 ].…”