Flavonoids: Cellular and Molecular Mechanism of Action in Glucose Homeostasis

Title: Flavonoids: Cellular and Molecular Mechanism of Action in Glucose Homeostasis

Volume: 8 Issue: 10

Author(s): Luisa Helena Cazarolli, Leila Zanatta, Elga Heloisa Alberton, Maria Santos Reis Bonorino Figueiredo, Poliane Folador, Rosangela Guollo Damazio, Moacir Geraldo Pizzolatti and Fatima Regina Mena Barreto Silva

Affiliation:

Keywords: Flavonoids, mechanism of action, glycemia, insulin, diabetes

Abstract: The purpose of this review is to discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of flavonoids focusing on carbohydrate metabolism. The beneficial effects of flavonoids have been studied in relation to diabetes mellitus, either through their capacity to avoid glucose absorption or to improve glucose tolerance. Furthermore, flavonoids stimulate glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, regulate the activity and/or expression of the rate-limiting enzymes in the carbohydrate metabolism pathway and act per se as insulin secretagogues or insulin mimetics, probably, by influencing the pleiotropic mechanisms of insulin signaling, to ameliorate the diabetes status.

Cite this article as:

Cazarolli Helena Luisa, Zanatta Leila, Alberton Heloisa Elga, Reis Bonorino Figueiredo Santos Maria, Folador Poliane, Damazio Guollo Rosangela, Pizzolatti Geraldo Moacir and Mena Barreto Silva Regina Fatima, Flavonoids: Cellular and Molecular Mechanism of Action in Glucose Homeostasis, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2008; 8 (10) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138955708785740580