Phytochemicals as modulators of β-cells and immunity for the therapy of type 1 diabetes: Recent discoveries in pharmacological mechanisms and clinical potential

Maria Karmella Apaya; Tien-Fen Kuo; Meng-Ting Yang; Greta Yang; Chiao-Ling Hsiao; Song-Bin Chang; Yenshou Lin; Wen-Chin Yang

doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104754

Phytochemicals as modulators of β-cells and immunity for the therapy of type 1 diabetes: Recent discoveries in pharmacological mechanisms and clinical potential

Pharmacol Res. 2020 Jun:156:104754. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104754. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Authors

Maria Karmella Apaya¹, Tien-Fen Kuo², Meng-Ting Yang¹, Greta Yang², Chiao-Ling Hsiao³, Song-Bin Chang⁴, Yenshou Lin⁵, Wen-Chin Yang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Chung Hsing University, Taipei, Taiwan; National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Crop Science Division, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁶ Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Chung Hsing University, Taipei, Taiwan; National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Life Sciences, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: wcyang@gate.sinica.edu.tw.

PMID: 32173584
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104754

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lethal autoimmune disease afflicting as many as 10 million people worldwide. Considerable advances have been made in early diagnosis and understanding the cause of T1D development. However, new remedies are still in great demand as TID remains an incurable disease. Natural products, primarily phytochemicals, are an extraordinary source of discovery of drug leads for diabetes. This review covers recent findings regarding plant compounds and extracts for T1D based on a literature search of articles published between 2004-2019 in PubMed, Reaxyx, and America/European patent databases. Over this period more than 90 plant compounds and extracts were reported to have beneficial effects on T1D via multiple mechanisms involving the regulation of immunity and/or β cells. In this review, we focus on recent progress in the understanding of the chemistry (chemical structure and plant source), anti-diabetic bioactivities, and likely mechanisms of action of plant compounds for T1D. Mechanistic studies are summarized, which indicate that flavonoids, terpenoids, and anthranoids can inhibit starch-digesting enzymes, aldose reductase, MAP kinases, NFκB, and/or IκB kinases implicated in energy metabolism, β-cells, and immunity. Furthermore, human clinical trials centering on flavonoids, isoflavonoids, terpenoids, stilbenoids, and polyynes are discussed, and an overview of emerging anti-diabetic strategies using plant compounds and extracts for applications in T1D prophylaxis and therapy is also provided.

Keywords: Clinical application; Mechanism of mode; Phytochemicals; Type 1 diabetes.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Blood Glucose / drug effects*
Blood Glucose / metabolism
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / drug therapy*
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / genetics
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology
Disease Models, Animal
Humans
Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects
Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
Immunologic Factors / adverse effects
Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
Immunotherapy* / adverse effects
Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects*
Insulin-Secreting Cells / immunology
Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism
Molecular Structure
Phytochemicals / adverse effects
Phytochemicals / chemistry
Phytochemicals / therapeutic use*
Structure-Activity Relationship
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Blood Glucose
Hypoglycemic Agents
Immunologic Factors
Phytochemicals