Dietary plant flavonoids in prevention of obesity and diabetes

Obesity and diabetes are the most prevailing chronic metabolic diseases worldwide from mainly lipid and glucose metabolic dysfunctions and their incidence is increasing at an alarming high rate. Obesity is characterized by excess fat accumulation in WAT and liver and is the central player of insulin resistance in the peripheral tissues from chronic inflammation, lipotoxicity and gut dysbiosis, and plays a key role for development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and vascular diseases. Diabetes mellitus, known as diabetes, is chiefly characterized by hyperglycaemia from impaired insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Several identified mutant genes in insulin secretion and resistance and various environmental factors are considered responsible for the onset of this disease. Currently available oral synthetic drugs, biguanides, incretin mimetic, GLP-1R and PPAR agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors for management of obesity and diabetes have several adverse effects in patients on long-term use. Emerging evidence supports the efficacy of dietary plant flavonoids in prevention and attenuation of obesity and diabetes by the protection and proliferation of pancreatic beta-cells and improvement of their insulin secretory function via activation of cAMP/PKA signaling pathway as well as in the improvement of insulin sensitivity in the peripheral metabolic tisssues for glucose uptake and utilization via inhibition of inflammation, lipotoxicity and oxidative stress. These flavonoids improve GLUT-4 expression and translocation to plasma membrane by activation of insulin-sensitive PI3K/Akt signaling and insulin-independent AMPK, SIRT-1 and MOR activation pathways for regulation of glucose homeostasis, and improve fat oxidation and reduce lipid synthesis by regulation of related genes for lipid homeostasis in the body of obese diabetic animals. In this chapter, we have highlighted all these beneficial anti-obesity and antidiabetic potentials of some dietary plant flavonoids along with their molecular actions, bioavailability and pharmacokinetics. In addition, the present understanding and management of obesity and diabetes are also focused.