Mechanistic Advances in Hypoglycemic Effects of Natural Polysaccharides: Multi-Target Regulation of Glycometabolism and Gut Microbiota Crosstalk
Natural polysaccharides (NPs), as a class of bioactive macromolecules with multitarget synergistic regulatory potential, exhibit significant advantages in diabetes intervention. This review systematically summarizes the core hypoglycemic mechanisms of NPs, covering structure–activity relationships,...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1980 |
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| author | Liquan Zhou Jiani Li Chen Ding Yimiao Zhou Zuowei Xiao |
| author_facet | Liquan Zhou Jiani Li Chen Ding Yimiao Zhou Zuowei Xiao |
| author_sort | Liquan Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural polysaccharides (NPs), as a class of bioactive macromolecules with multitarget synergistic regulatory potential, exhibit significant advantages in diabetes intervention. This review systematically summarizes the core hypoglycemic mechanisms of NPs, covering structure–activity relationships, integration of the gut microbiota–metabolism–immunity axis, and regulation of key signaling pathways. Studies demonstrate that the molecular weight, branch complexity, and chemical modifications of NPs mediate their hypoglycemic activity by influencing bioavailability and target specificity. NPs improve glucose metabolism through multiple pathways: activating insulin signaling, improving insulin resistance (IR), enhancing glycogen synthesis, inhibiting gluconeogenesis, and regulating gut microbiota homeostasis. Additionally, NPs protect pancreatic β-cell function via the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) antioxidant pathway and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) anti-inflammatory pathway. Clinical application of NPs still requires overcoming challenges such as resolving complex structure–activity relationships and dynamically integrating cross-organ signaling. Future research should focus on integrating multi-omics technologies (e.g., metagenomics, metabolomics) and organoid models to decipher the cross-organ synergistic action networks of NPs, and promote their translation from basic research to clinical applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9b3ebd25751240afa5303a40e62f28a8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-9b3ebd25751240afa5303a40e62f28a82025-08-20T02:30:47ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01309198010.3390/molecules30091980Mechanistic Advances in Hypoglycemic Effects of Natural Polysaccharides: Multi-Target Regulation of Glycometabolism and Gut Microbiota CrosstalkLiquan Zhou0Jiani Li1Chen Ding2Yimiao Zhou3Zuowei Xiao4Homologous Innovation Laboratory of Medicine and Food, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, ChinaHomologous Innovation Laboratory of Medicine and Food, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, ChinaHomologous Innovation Laboratory of Medicine and Food, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, ChinaHomologous Innovation Laboratory of Medicine and Food, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, ChinaHomologous Innovation Laboratory of Medicine and Food, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, ChinaNatural polysaccharides (NPs), as a class of bioactive macromolecules with multitarget synergistic regulatory potential, exhibit significant advantages in diabetes intervention. This review systematically summarizes the core hypoglycemic mechanisms of NPs, covering structure–activity relationships, integration of the gut microbiota–metabolism–immunity axis, and regulation of key signaling pathways. Studies demonstrate that the molecular weight, branch complexity, and chemical modifications of NPs mediate their hypoglycemic activity by influencing bioavailability and target specificity. NPs improve glucose metabolism through multiple pathways: activating insulin signaling, improving insulin resistance (IR), enhancing glycogen synthesis, inhibiting gluconeogenesis, and regulating gut microbiota homeostasis. Additionally, NPs protect pancreatic β-cell function via the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) antioxidant pathway and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) anti-inflammatory pathway. Clinical application of NPs still requires overcoming challenges such as resolving complex structure–activity relationships and dynamically integrating cross-organ signaling. Future research should focus on integrating multi-omics technologies (e.g., metagenomics, metabolomics) and organoid models to decipher the cross-organ synergistic action networks of NPs, and promote their translation from basic research to clinical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1980natural polysaccharideshypoglycemiamechanism of actiongut microbiotasignaling pathway |
| spellingShingle | Liquan Zhou Jiani Li Chen Ding Yimiao Zhou Zuowei Xiao Mechanistic Advances in Hypoglycemic Effects of Natural Polysaccharides: Multi-Target Regulation of Glycometabolism and Gut Microbiota Crosstalk Molecules natural polysaccharides hypoglycemia mechanism of action gut microbiota signaling pathway |
| title | Mechanistic Advances in Hypoglycemic Effects of Natural Polysaccharides: Multi-Target Regulation of Glycometabolism and Gut Microbiota Crosstalk |
| title_full | Mechanistic Advances in Hypoglycemic Effects of Natural Polysaccharides: Multi-Target Regulation of Glycometabolism and Gut Microbiota Crosstalk |
| title_fullStr | Mechanistic Advances in Hypoglycemic Effects of Natural Polysaccharides: Multi-Target Regulation of Glycometabolism and Gut Microbiota Crosstalk |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanistic Advances in Hypoglycemic Effects of Natural Polysaccharides: Multi-Target Regulation of Glycometabolism and Gut Microbiota Crosstalk |
| title_short | Mechanistic Advances in Hypoglycemic Effects of Natural Polysaccharides: Multi-Target Regulation of Glycometabolism and Gut Microbiota Crosstalk |
| title_sort | mechanistic advances in hypoglycemic effects of natural polysaccharides multi target regulation of glycometabolism and gut microbiota crosstalk |
| topic | natural polysaccharides hypoglycemia mechanism of action gut microbiota signaling pathway |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1980 |
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