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REVIEW article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1532246
This article is part of the Research Topic Naturally Occurring Compounds and Their Applications in Endocrinology: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Potential and Clinical Applications View all articles

The Application of Procyanidins in Diabetes and Its Complications: A Review of Preclinical Studies

Provisionally accepted
Yongchuang Zhang Yongchuang Zhang 1Haoyuan Liu Haoyuan Liu 2Yongfu Fan Yongfu Fan 3*Huan Huan Liu Huan Huan Liu 4*
  • 1 First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
  • 2 Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
  • 3 Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
  • 4 Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Diabetes mellitus (DM) and its various complications, including diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, and ulcers, pose significant challenges to global health. This review investigates the potential of procyanidins (PCs), a natural polyphenolic compound, in preventing and managing diabetes and its complications. PCs, recognized for their strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperglycemic properties, play a crucial role in reducing oxidative stress and enhancing endothelial function, which are essential for managing diabetic complications. This review elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which PCs improve insulin sensitivity and endothelial health, thereby providing protection against the various complications of diabetes. The comprehensive analysis underscores the promising therapeutic role of PCs in diabetes care, indicating the need for further clinical studies to confirm and leverage their potential in comprehensive diabetes management strategies.

    Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Procyanidins, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, insulin sensitivity

    Received: 21 Nov 2024; Accepted: 14 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, Liu, Fan and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Yongfu Fan, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450008, Henan Province, China
    Huan Huan Liu, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong Province, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.