Plants of the Rubiaceae Family with Effect on Metabolic Syndrome: Constituents, Pharmacology, and Molecular Targets

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) predisposes individuals to chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like type 2 diabetes (T2D), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disorders caused by systemic inflammation, intestinal dysbiosis, and diminished antioxidant ability, leading to oxidative stress and compromised insulin sensitivity across vital organs. NCDs present a global health challenge characterized by lengthy and costly pharmacological treatments. Complementary and alternative medicine using herbal therapies has gained popularity. Approximately 350,000 plant species are considered medicinal, with 80% of the world’s population opting for traditional remedies; however, only 21,000 plants are scientifically confirmed by the WHO. The Rubiaceae family is promissory for preventing and treating MetS and associated NCDs due to its rich content of metabolites renowned for their antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory properties. These compounds influence transcription factors and mitigate chronic low-grade inflammation, liver lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance, making them a cost-effective non-pharmacological approach for MetS prevention and treatment. This review aims to collect and update data that validate the traditional uses of the Rubiaceae family for treating MetS and associated NCDs from experimental models and human subjects, highlighting the mechanisms through which their extracts and metabolites modulate glucose and lipid metabolism at the molecular, biochemical, and physiological levels.

Spermacoce alata Aubl. Essential Oil: Chemical Composition, In Vitro Antioxidant Activity, and Inhibitory Effects of Acetylcholinesterase, α-Glucosidase and β-Lactamase

“…Molecules 2024, 29, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 17 radical-scavenging ability, and immunomodulatory properties of secondary metabolites to prevent and treat metabolic syndromes such as diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disorders, which have broad therapeutic prospects [34,35]. In previous studies, it has also exhibited potent anti-leukemia activity [36].…”

“…In Nigeria, they are used to treat human schistosomiasis [ 33 ]. The compounds of S. alata can reduce chronic low-grade inflammation, hepatic lipid toxicity, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance by regulating the activity of metabolic transcription factors and taking advantage of the prebiotic activity, free radical-scavenging ability, and immunomodulatory properties of secondary metabolites to prevent and treat metabolic syndromes such as diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disorders, which have broad therapeutic prospects [ 34 , 35 ]. In previous studies, it has also exhibited potent anti-leukemia activity [ 36 ].…”

The development of nanocarriers for natural products

“…Gao et al, 2020;Vahedi-Mazdabadi et al, 2023), highlight the significance of plant bioactive compounds in drug development. However, only about 21,000 of the world's 350,000 known plant species (Gonz alez-Castelazo et al, 2023;Marks et al, 2021) have been utilized for drug research and development, leaving many potential medicinal plants to be discovered and used. Poor stability, low intestinal absorption rates, and bioavailability hinder the development of plant products (Basu et al, 2023;McClements, 2020;Rahman et al, 2020;Z.…”