Natural Products in Metabolic Disease Management
Summary
Natural products derived from plants, microbes and marine organisms have long served as a cornerstone in the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia and obesity. Historical successes such as statins—microbial metabolites that revolutionised cholesterol management—and biguanides, whose plant-derived precursors led to modern antidiabetic therapy, exemplify the translational potential of phytochemical discovery. Contemporary research spans isolation of polyphenols, flavonoids, triterpenoids and alkaloids, exploring their roles in modulating glucose and lipid homeostasis, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, and targeting key enzymes. Innovations in extraction, standardisation and delivery systems have enabled the development of nutraceuticals and phytopharmaceuticals to complement conventional regimens. Advances in metabolomic profiling, structure elucidation and computational modelling are accelerating the identification of novel candidates with multitarget activity and improved safety profiles, offering promising avenues for personalised and globally accessible interventions in metabolic disease management.
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Natural Products in Metabolic Disease Management publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in natural products in metabolic disease management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Flavonoids: Polyphenolic compounds in plants known for antioxidant and metabolic regulatory effects.
Secoiridoids: A class of monoterpenoid glycosides often contributing to anti-inflammatory and hypoglycaemic activities.
Xanthones: Oxygenated heterocyclic compounds with diverse bioactivities including enzyme inhibition and antioxidant action.
HMG-CoA reductase: Key enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis and principal target of statin therapy.
Antioxidant: Molecule that inhibits oxidation and mitigates oxidative stress implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic disease.
References
- Natural Products to Counteract the Epidemic of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders. Molecules (2016).
- Bioactivities of Centaurium erythraea (Gentianaceae) Decoctions: Antioxidant Activity, Enzyme Inhibition and Docking Studies. Molecules (2019).
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