Progress of research on treating diabetes with flavonoids

Traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetes is attracting more and more attention because of its stable efficacy,little side effects and simultaneously multiple target points.Flavonoids are a class of natural products which have broad ranges of biological activities.It has been found recent years that many plant flavonoids can be applied in treating diabetes and its complications.The anti-diabetic mechanisms have been suggested that these compounds may have a good effect on improving the metabolism of glucose and lipid,improving insulin resistance,inhibiting activity of related glucose metabolism enzyme and resiting to diabetes oxidative damage etc.,meanwhile delaying the occurrence and development of diabetic complications to some extent. Key words: Flavonoids; Diabetes mellitus; Pharmacology