Published online Jul 15, 2017. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v8.i7.337
Peer-review started: January 11, 2017
First decision: February 17, 2017
Revised: March 13, 2017
Accepted: April 6, 2017
Article in press: April 10, 2017
Published online: July 15, 2017
Processing time: 176 Days and 11.7 Hours
Development of type 2 diabetes has been linked to β-cell failure coupled with insulin resistance and obesity. Adipose tissue, known as the fat store, secretes a number of hormones and proteins collectively termed adipokines some of which regulate insulin sensitivity. Dysregulation in the secretion of adipokines has been linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In this review, we summarized evidence of the role of adipokines with focus on leptin, adiponectin, adipsin, visfatin and apelin in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and discussed the potential of saponins to modify the ill-regulated adipokines secretions, which could promote the use of this class of phytochemicals as potential antidiabetics agents.
Core tip: β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are linked to type 2 diabetes. Adipokines produced from adipose tissues regulate glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Dysregulation of adipokines are linked to insulin resistance and disruption of glucose Homeostasis. Saponins modulate the activity of some adipokines hence may serve as therapy for treatment of type 2 diabetes.