Natural Products in Diabetes Mellitus 2.0

Dear Colleagues,

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease characterized by a state of hyperglycemia. This sustained increase in glucose levels induces oxidative damage, which can contribute in different ways to the development of chronic complications. Such complications have been directly or indirectly related to the high morbidity and mortality of DM. The increase in the prevalence of this disease is more marked in developing countries, although it does not exclude developed countries. Additionally, this disease represents a high cost to the health sector and to the patient. The prevention and control of DM consists of physical activity and diet modification. However, various natural products are used worldwide to aid in the control and prevention of DM.

Natural products come from various sources, such as plants, foods and microorganisms. They possess or generate bioactive compounds that may have antidiabetic activity, for which the mechanisms of action are diverse and range from the inhibition of enzymes such as alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase to the modification of hormonal activities involved in glucose homeostasis. Additionally, natural products can present diverse biological activities that can contribute to or generate synergy in the control and prevention of the predominant complications in DM, by reducing oxidative stress resulting from the increase in free radicals due to the high content of glucose in the blood. Therefore, natural products can contribute to antioxidant enzymatic activity.

However, the use of these natural products is generally part of traditional medicine, so there is not always information to support their use, dosage, toxicity, etc.

The study of the mechanisms of action of various natural products, either in isolation as an active substance or in a more complex form as an extract or in its natural state, is of interest since it provides knowledge for the development of therapeutic agents and adjuvant therapies for DM, in addition to generating information on dosage, toxicity, mechanisms of action, synergistic and/or antagonistic activity, etc.

For this Special Issue, we invite the submission of original contributions, reviews or short communications that contribute to the knowledge of natural products and their antidiabetic action, including either in vivo or in vitro models, therapeutic models, the characterization of compounds and extracts, and mechanisms of action.

Dr. Ana Angelica Feregrino-Perez
Guest Editor

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• natural products
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• diabetes mellitus
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• Natural Products in Diabetes Mellitus in Pharmaceuticals (14 articles)