title: Antidiabetic properties of dietary flavonoids: a cellular mechanism review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Natural food products have been used for combating human diseases for thousands of years. Naturally occurring flavonoids including flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavonols, isoflavones and anthocyanidins have been proposed as effective supplements for management and prevention of diabetes and its long-term complications based on in vitro and animal models.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the roles of dietary flavonoids in diabetes management and their molecular mechanisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tremendous studies have found that flavonoids originated from foods could improve glucose metabolism, lipid profile, regulating the hormones and enzymes in human body, further protecting human being from diseases like obesity, diabetes and their complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the current review, we summarize recent progress in understanding the biological action, mechanism and therapeutic potential of the dietary flavonoids and its subsequent clinical outcomes in the field of drug discovery in management of diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Food Science and Technology Program, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, 28, Jinfeng Road, Tangjiawan, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519085 China.
authors.forename: Ramachandran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vinayagam
authors.affiliation: Food Science and Technology Program, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, 28, Jinfeng Road, Tangjiawan, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519085 China.
authors.forename: Baojun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Dietary flavonoids; Glycemic control; Hyperglycemia; Insulin secretion