Affiliations 

  • 1 Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat 10106, Morocco
  • 2 High Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques of Errachidia, Errachidia, Morocco
  • 3 Substance Abuse and Toxicology Research Center, Jazan University, P.O. Box: 114, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
  • 4 Pharmacy Practice Research Unit, Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
  • 5 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, P.O. Box 114, Postal Code 45142, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
  • 6 Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, 60115 Surabaya, Indonesia
  • 7 Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia
  • 8 High Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques of Tetouan, Tetouan, Morocco
Heliyon, 2024 May 15;10(9):e29718.
PMID: 38694079 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29718

Abstract

Diabetes is a complex disease that affects a large percentage of the world's population, and it is associated with several risk factors. Self-management poses a significant challenge, but natural sources have shown great potential in providing effective glucose reducing solutions. Flavonoids, a class of bioactive substances found in different natural sources including medicinal plants, have emerged as promising candidates in this regard. Indeed, several flavonoids, including apigenin, arbutin, catechins, and cyanidin, have demonstrated remarkable anti-diabetic properties. The clinical effectiveness of these flavonoids is linked to their potential to decrease blood glucose concentration and increase insulin concentration. Thus, the regulation of certain metabolic pathways such as glycolysis and neoglycogenesis has also been demonstrated. In vitro and in vivo investigations revealed different mechanisms of action related to flavonoid compounds at subcellular, cellular, and molecular levels. The main actions reside in the activation of glycolytic signaling pathways and the inhibition of signaling that promotes glucose synthesis and storage. In this review, we highlight the clinical efficiency of natural flavonoids as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying this effectiveness.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.