Bio-flavonoids with promising anti- diabetic potentials: A critical survey

Bio-flavonoids comprise a group of phenolic secondary plant metabolites that are widespread in nature. Major flavonoids that have well categorized structures and well defined structure function-relationships are: flavans, flavanones, flavones, flavonols, flavanols, flavanonols, cetechins, anthocyanidins and isoflavones. Bio-flavonoids are well-known for their multi-directional biological activities including anti-diabetic efficacy. Numerous studies have been carried out to explore their potential role in the treatment of diabetes. A good number of studies have already demonstrated the hypoglycemic effects of flavonoids using different experimental models and treatments the drug candidates have been shown to exert such beneficial effects against the disease manifestation, either through their capacity to avoid glucose absorption or to improve glucose tolerance. It has also been demonstrated that flavonoids can act per se as insulin secretagogues or insulin mimetics, probably by influencing the pleiotropic mechanisms, to attenuate the diabetic complications; besides, the drug candidates have been found to stimulate glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, and regulate the activity and/or expression of the rate-limiting enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism pathway. As a result, bio-flavonoids are now-a-days regarded as promising and significantly attractive natural substances to enrich the current therapy options against diabetes. Correspondence/Reprint request: Dr. Goutam Brahmachari, Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731 235, West Bengal, India. E-mail: [email protected] Goutam Brahmachari 188 The purpose of this resume is to represent promising anti-diabetic flavonoid candidates highlighting their absorption and metabolism along with their mode of action in regulating diabetic symptoms.