Research Progress on Therapeutic Mechanism of Natural Products on Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

In recent years, with the rapid development of economy and the change of life style, the prevalence rate of diabetes has increased year by year, which has become a worldwide problem threatening the health of all mankind. According to epidemiological studies, most patients with diabetes are mainly type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), accompanied by insulin resistance and insufficient insulin secretion. The interaction of many factors such as inflammation, obesity, oxidative stress and apoptosis leads to the occurrence of insulin resistance. At present, the commonly used hypoglycemic drugs include insulin and related preparations, biguanides, sulfonylureas, α-glycosidase inhibitors, glinids, thiazolidinediones, dipeptidyl peptidase-Ⅳinhibitors and so on. Although appropriate exercise, lifestyle changes and oral hypoglycemic drugs are effective in the treatment of mild T2DM. However, long-term and combined medication is needed for patients with severe diabetes or with related complications, which increases the risk of drug side effects and adverse reactions. Chinese herbal medicine has been used in China for thousands of years, such as Huanglian jiedutang and Yangyin Jianpitang. Similarly, many single traditional Chinese medicines also have their own advantages in the treatment of T2DM, such as Ophiopogonis Radix，Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma，Momordica Charantia，Euodiae Fructus，Alismatis Rhizoma，Astragali Radix，Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma，Anemarrhenae Rhizoma，Dioscoreae Rhizoma and other traditional Chinese medicines have ideal effects in reducing blood sugar and improving insulin resistance. However, the active substances and targets in a considerable number of prescriptions or single medicines are not clear. Recently, more and more natural products have been proved to have anti-T2DM properties, and their possible therapeutic mechanisms have been explored. The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively review the effects and related targets of natural active substances such as flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, polysaccharides and quinones on T2DM, and to provide theoretical support for better research and development of drugs for the treatment of diabetes and its complications.