Plant-Derived Control of Postprandial Glycemia: α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase, and the Incretin-DPP-4 Interface.
8 affiliations
- 1Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania.
- 2Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania.
- 3Research Methodology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania.
- 4Drug Research Center, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania.
- 5Department of Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania.
- 6Faculty of Medical and Behavioral Sciences, Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu Jiu, 210185 Târgu Jiu, Romania.
- 7Department of Intensive Care and Anesthesia, Emergency County Hospital, 200642 Craiova, Romania.
- 8Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania.
Abstract
Postprandial hyperglycemia can be modified before absorbed glucose reaches the circulation. Plant-derived compounds may slow starch hydrolysis through α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidases, stimulate glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) release, or preserve incretin activity through dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibition. This critical narrative review integrates these mechanisms around intestinal exposure, substrate selectivity, and human evidence. Flavonoids show structure-dependent and time-dependent inhibition of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, but results vary markedly between yeast, rodent, and human enzyme systems. Iminosugar-rich mulberry preparations and thiosugar-containing Salacia extracts provide the strongest chemistry-to-clinic examples, including randomized trials that reduced postprandial glucose or HbA1c. Preclinical studies suggest that berberine may link bitter-taste-receptor-mediated GLP-1 secretion with local intestinal DPP-4 effects, whereas mangiferin, flavonol glycosides, anthocyanins, and food-derived peptides remain supported mainly by preclinical studies. In vitro potency alone is insufficient: meal composition, enzyme source, luminal concentration, metabolism, product standardization, gastrointestinal tolerance, and incretin measurements determine translational value. Candidate prioritization requires defined chemistry, achievable exposure, and product-specific human validation; acute effects do not establish durable benefit or human target engagement.
Related
- Effect of Timing of Apple Juice Consumption on Postprandial Glycemia: A Randomized Crossover Trial
- Dynamic Measures of Glycemia in Relation to Hepatic Features in Adults Without Diabetes
- Glycemia reprograms substrate transport and shapes divergent stress responses in differentiating H9c2 cells
- Continuous glucose monitoring after discontinuation of incretin-based obesity pharmacotherapy: indirect evidence and a research framework for metabolic stability and weight maintenance
- Cardiometabolic Substrate Modification in Atrial Fibrillation: Obesity and Epicardial Adipose Tissue in the Era of Incretin-Based Therapies and Catheter Ablation
BibTeX
@article{vasilica2026plantderived,
title = {{Plant-Derived Control of Postprandial Glycemia: α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase, and the Incretin-DPP-4 Interface.}},
author = {Pirscoveanu Denisa Floriana Vasilica and Diana-Maria Trasca and Adina Maria Kamal and Renata Maria Varut and Romeo Popa and Pluta Ion Dorin and Dirnu Rodica and Maria Stoica and Coanca Staicu Cristina Teodora and George-Alin Stoica},
journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/ph19101546},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42943244},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Plant-Derived Control of Postprandial Glycemia: α-Amylase, α-Glucosidase, and the Incretin-DPP-4 Interface.
AU - Pirscoveanu Denisa Floriana Vasilica
AU - Diana-Maria Trasca
AU - Adina Maria Kamal
AU - Renata Maria Varut
AU - Romeo Popa
AU - Pluta Ion Dorin
AU - Dirnu Rodica
AU - Maria Stoica
AU - Coanca Staicu Cristina Teodora
AU - George-Alin Stoica
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/ph19101546
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42943244
AB - Postprandial hyperglycemia can be modified before absorbed glucose reaches the circulation. Plant-derived compounds may slow starch hydrolysis through α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidases, stimulate glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) release, or preserve incretin activity through dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibition. This critical narrative review integrates these mechanisms around intestinal exposure, substrate selectivity, and human evidence. Flavonoids show structure-dependent and time-dependent inhibition of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, but results vary markedly between yeast, rodent, and human enzyme systems. Iminosugar-rich mulberry preparations and thiosugar-containing Salacia extracts provide the strongest chemistry-to-clinic examples, including randomized trials that reduced postprandial glucose or HbA1c. Preclinical studies suggest that berberine may link bitter-taste-receptor-mediated GLP-1 secretion with local intestinal DPP-4 effects, whereas mangiferin, flavonol glycosides, anthocyanins, and food-derived peptides remain supported mainly by preclinical studies. In vitro potency alone is insufficient: meal composition, enzyme source, luminal concentration, metabolism, product standardization, gastrointestinal tolerance, and incretin measurements determine translational value. Candidate prioritization requires defined chemistry, achievable exposure, and product-specific human validation; acute effects do not establish durable benefit or human target engagement.
SN - 1424-8247
ER -