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Published on: April 23, 2018
A Critical Review on Role of Available Synthetic Drugs and Phytochemicals in Insulin Resistance Treatment by
Prangya Rath1, Anuj Ranjan2, Abhishek Chauhan2
1Amity Institute of Environmental Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201303, India.
Abstract:
Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition of impaired response of cells towards insulin. It is marked by excessive blood glucose, dysregulated insulin signalling, altered pathways, damaged pancreatic β-cells, metabolic disorders, etc. Chronic hyperglycemic conditions leads to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which causes excess generation of highly reactive free radicals, causing oxidative stress, further leading to development and progression of complications like vascular dysfunction, damaged cellular proteins, and DNA. One of the causes for IR is dysregulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Advancements in drug therapeutics have helped people manage IR by regulating PTP1B, however have been reported to cause side effects. Therefore, there is a growing interest on usage of phytochemical constituents having IR therapeutic properties and aiding to minimize these complications. Medicinal plants have not been utilized to their full potential as a therapeutic drug due to lack of knowledge of their active and effective chemical constituents, mode of action, regulation of IR parameters, and dosage of administration. This review highlights phytochemical constituents present in medicinal plants or spices, their potential effectiveness on proteins (PTP1B) regulating IR, and reported possible mechanism of action studied on in vitro models. The study gives current knowledge and future recommendations on the above aspects and is expected to be beneficial in developing herbal drug using these phytochemical constituents, either alone or in combination, for medication of IR and diabetes.
Insights
Phytochemicals from medicinal plants show promise in treating insulin resistance (IR) by targeting protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Further research is needed to understand their mechanisms and optimal use for managing IR and diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Insulin resistance (IR) is a cellular condition marked by impaired insulin response, leading to hyperglycemia and potentially Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).
- Oxidative stress and cellular damage, including DNA and protein alterations, are consequences of chronic hyperglycemia associated with T2DM.
- Dysregulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a key factor in IR development, and current pharmaceutical interventions have potential side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review phytochemical constituents from medicinal plants and spices with therapeutic potential for IR.
- To explore the effectiveness of these phytochemicals on PTP1B, a key regulator of IR.
- To summarize reported mechanisms of action for phytochemicals in in vitro models and provide future research recommendations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on studies investigating phytochemicals and their effects on IR-related pathways.
- Analysis of in vitro data on the interaction of phytochemicals with PTP1B.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on phytochemicals for IR management.
Main Results:
- Identified various phytochemical constituents from medicinal plants and spices with potential to regulate PTP1B.
- Documented in vitro evidence supporting the mechanisms of action for selected phytochemicals in managing IR.
- Highlighted the need for further research into dosage, efficacy, and combination therapies.
Conclusions:
- Phytochemicals represent a promising avenue for developing novel therapeutics for IR and associated complications like T2DM.
- Understanding the specific mechanisms and optimizing the use of these natural compounds can lead to safer and effective treatments.
- Further research is crucial to translate in vitro findings into clinical applications for herbal drug development.

