DPP-IV Inhibitors from natural sources: An alternative approach for treatment and management of diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder present in almost all countries. According to WHO, T2DM is the World’s fifth leading cause of death. Treatment for T2DM depends on the incretin hormone (GLP-1 & GIP). GLP-1 plays a vital role in the body’s metabolism, such as insulin secretion but DPP-IV enzyme inactivates these incretin hormones. Therefore, it becomes important to identify DPP-IV inhibitors that act as prospective antidiabetic agents. Synthetic inhibitors like vildagliptin, sitagliptin, and saxagliptin are available in the market but they have some undesirable side effects. There are several natural plants as well as products that provide safe and effective medication against diabetes by DPP-IV enzyme inhibitory mechanism. This review summarizes recent advancement of DPP-IV inhibitors from medicinal plants and isolated phytoconstituents including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenol, and stilbenoids which are responsible for the DPP-IV inhibition.