Mechanisms of Medicine‐Food Homologous Plant Compounds in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus: A Semi‐Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

The global burden of diabetes mellitus (DM) is rising, shifting focus toward dietary interventions. Bioactive compounds from medicine‐food homologous (MFH) plants bridge nutrition and pharmacotherapy, yet a holistic synthesis of their molecular mechanisms is lacking. A semi‐systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science (2017–2026) identified 21 original articles on 12 species of MFH plants from the Chinese National Health Commission's catalogue. These MFH‐derived bioactive compounds exert anti‐diabetic effects through diverse mechanisms collectively targeting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). These include: improving insulin resistance (IR) via IRS/PI3K/Akt and AMPK signaling; reducing oxidative stress via endogenous antioxidant defenses; suppressing inflammation through NF‐κB and TLR4 pathways; modulating gut microbiota and enhancing short‐chain fatty acids; improving lipid metabolism; increasing glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion; and inhibiting ferroptosis. Individual plants often act via multiple pathways, though predominant mechanisms vary. The reviewed evidence suggests MFH‐derived bioactive compounds may act as multi‐target regulators, indicating a potential adjunctive role in diabetes care. High‐quality clinical trials are needed to standardize dosages and validate long‐term efficacy.