title: Flavonoids: cellular and molecular mechanism of action in glucose homeostasis.
abstract: The purpose of this review is to discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of flavonoids focusing on carbohydrate metabolism. The beneficial effects of flavonoids have been studied in relation to diabetes mellitus, either through their capacity to avoid glucose absorption or to improve glucose tolerance. Furthermore, flavonoids stimulate glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, regulate the activity and/or expression of the rate-limiting enzymes in the carbohydrate metabolism pathway and act per se as insulin secretagogues or insulin mimetics, probably, by influencing the pleiotropic mechanisms of insulin signaling, to ameliorate the diabetes status.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Bairro Trindade, Cx, Postal 5069, CEP: 88040-970, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luisa Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Cazarolli
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanatta
authors.forename: Elga Heloisa
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Alberton
authors.forename: Maria Santos Reis Bonorino
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Poliane
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Folador
authors.forename: Rosangela Guollo
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Damazio
authors.forename: Moacir Geraldo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pizzolatti
authors.forename: Fátima Regina Mena Barreto
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005419:Flavonoids; D007328:Insulin