Table 3.

Selected antidiabetic phytoconstituents and its targeted metabolic pathway.

Phytoconstituents	Targeted metabolic pathways	Structures
Catharanthine	Free radical; our body has a defense system containing several enzymes, which are catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione-S transferases and reduced glutathione. Catharanthine activates these free radical scavenging enzymes and prevents our body from their adverse effects.
Harmine	Insulin secretion and β-cell regeneration
Betaine Achyranthine β-ecdysone	Carbohydrate digestion and absorption
Apigenin	Cholesterol synthesis, glycogen synthesis
Betaine choline	Regeneration of pancreatic β cells and insulin secretion
Ferulic acid	Free radical scavenging activity, insulin secretion
Leucine, isoleucine, alanine	Insulin secretion
Chlorogenic acid	Krebs cycle
Emodin, cinnamic acid	Insulin secretion
Eugenol, α-pinene, limonene, p-cymene thujone	Insulin secretion, regeneration of pancreatic β cells
Pectin	Glucose transport, carbohydrate metabolism, stabilizing agents
Inulin	Glucose transport, carbohydrate digestion and absorption
Cucurbitacin B	Insulin secretion, glycogen synthesis
Catechin Epicatechin	Scavenging activity Insulinomematic
Naringin	Glycogen synthesis, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis
Flavones	Insulin secretion
Quercetin, quercitrin, apigenin, rutin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside	Insulin secretion
Naringenin	Insulin secretion
α-Terpineol	Insulin secretion
Kaempferol, isorhamnetin, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid	Free radical scavenging activity Carbohydrate digestion and absorption, insulin secretion
Vitamin A, E	Free radical scavenging activity
Ellagic acid	Carbohydrate digestion and absorption, insulin secretion
Carvacrol, linalool	Insulin secretion, carbohydrate digestion and absorption
Stigmasterol	Regeneration of pancreatic β cells, insulin secretion
Ursolic acid	Regeneration of pancreatic β cells and insulin secretion
β-Sitosterol	Insulin receptor (IR) and glucose transporter 4