Role of anthraquinones in combating insulin resistance

Wanru Xia; Shuqian Li; LinZehao Li; Shibo Zhang; Xiaolei Wang; Wenyu Ding; Lina Ding; Xiandang Zhang; Zhibin Wang

doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1275430

Role of anthraquinones in combating insulin resistance

Front Pharmacol. 2023 Nov 20:14:1275430. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1275430. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Wanru Xia¹, Shuqian Li², LinZehao Li¹, Shibo Zhang¹, Xiaolei Wang¹, Wenyu Ding¹, Lina Ding¹, Xiandang Zhang², Zhibin Wang¹

Affiliations

¹ Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China.
² Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China.

Abstract

Insulin resistance presents a formidable public health challenge that is intricately linked to the onset and progression of various chronic ailments, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer. Effectively addressing insulin resistance is paramount in preventing and managing these metabolic disorders. Natural herbal remedies show promise in combating insulin resistance, with anthraquinone extracts garnering attention for their role in enhancing insulin sensitivity and treating diabetes. Anthraquinones are believed to ameliorate insulin resistance through diverse pathways, encompassing activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, restoration of insulin signal transduction, attenuation of inflammatory pathways, and modulation of gut microbiota. This comprehensive review aims to consolidate the potential anthraquinone compounds that exert beneficial effects on insulin resistance, elucidating the underlying mechanisms responsible for their therapeutic impact. The evidence discussed in this review points toward the potential utilization of anthraquinones as a promising therapeutic strategy to combat insulin resistance and its associated metabolic diseases.

Keywords: anthraquinones; antiinflammation; insulin resistance; intestinal microbiome; natural products.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Shandong Province “Double-Hundred Talent Plan” on 100 Foreign Experts and 100 Foreign Expert Teams Introduction (WST2018004), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2023MH091), and the Innovation Project of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences (2022).