Boosting GLP-1 by Natural Products

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is growing rapidly. Diabetes is the underlying cause of many metabolic and tissue dysfunctions, and, therefore, many therapeutic agents have been developed to regulate the glycemic profile. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a newly developed class of antidiabetic drugs that have potent hypoglycemic effects via several molecular pathways. In addition to synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonists, some evidence suggests that natural products may have modulatory effects on GLP-1 expression and secretion. In the current study, we conclude that certain herbal-based constituents, such as berberine, tea, curcumin, cinnamon, wheat, soybean, resveratrol, and gardenia, can exert an influence on GLP-1 release.