Title:Advances in Small Molecules of Flavonoids for the Regulation of
Gluconeogenesis
Volume: 23
Issue: 23
Author(s): Xiaoran Wu, Aidong Wang, Chuchu Ning, Yangyang Wu and Sunhui Chen*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy, Provincial Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, Fujian, China
Keywords:
Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Gluconeogenesis, Natural small molecules, Flavonoids, Hyperglycemia, RNA transcription.
Abstract: Hyperglycemia resulting from over-gluconeogenesis is a prominent feature of type 2 diabetes
mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, it is very important to reduce glucose output, especially liver
glucose output, and maintain blood glucose homeostasis in the treatment of T2DM. It has been
found that small molecules of natural flavonoids are able to act on various targets in the gluconeogenic
pathways, interfering with rate-limiting enzyme activity or regulating the cascade of hormonal
signaling and affecting all levels of transcription factors by limiting the transport of non-sugar substrates.
As a result, gluconeogenesis is inhibited. Literature indicated that gluconeogenesis regulated
by flavonoids could be divided into two pathways, namely the pre-translational pathway and the
pro-translational pathway. The pre-translational pathway mainly interferes with the signaling pathway
and transcription factors in gluconeogenesis and inhibits RNA transcription and the expression
of gluconeogenic genes, while the post-translational pathway mainly regulates the transport of nonglucose
substrates and directly inhibits four rate-limiting enzymes. This review describes the effects
of small flavonoid molecules on different targets and signaling pathways during gluconeogenesis, as
well as relevant validation methods, in the hope of providing references for similar studies and
promoting the development of anti-diabetic drugs.