Natural compounds with DPP-4 inhibitory effects: Implications for the treatment of diabetes

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are antidiabetes agents that decrease blood glucose by preventing the degradation of endogenous glucagon-like peptide-1. The first DPP-4 was sitagliptin followed by several other agents in the class introduced to manage diabetes. Recent studies have suggested that naturally occurring compounds can exert an antidiabetes effect through DPP-4 inhibition. Such compounds may have a place in the treatment of diabetes within the diet; however, while DPP-4 inhibition alone is not associated with hypoglycemia, in combinations with other medication hypoglycemia can result, therefore, it is critical to know what herbal or food-based compounds may have these activities in the management of diabetes patients. In this review, we have outlined the compounds that have DPP-4 inhibition that may have utility in the treatment of diabetes.