Pinent Montserrat, Castell Anna, Baiges Isabel, Montagut Gemma, Arola Lluís, Ardévol Anna
Authors are with Dept. of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Rovira i Virgili Univ., Tarragona, Spain. Direct inquiries to author Ardévol (E-mail:
Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2008 Oct;7(4):299-308. doi: 10.1111/j.1541-4337.2008.00048.x.
Flavonoids are usually found in fruits and other plant organs and therefore widely consumed. They are antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and protective against coronary disease and metabolic disorders. These beneficial effects make them good candidates for the development of new functional foods with potential protective/preventive properties against several diseases. We must consider that this fact could lead to a higher intake of some of these flavonoids. Most of the studies concerning their beneficial effects showed peripheral activity of these molecules, but there is no clear information about their central effects on a key organ on metabolic control: the endocrine pancreas. The pancreas has an endocrine function of major importance to regulate nutrient metabolism, such as control of glucose homeostasis via insulin and glucagon secretion. Its importance in whole body nutrient equilibrium is highlighted by the fact that several pathologies, such as type 1 and/or 2 diabetes, are related at some point to a pancreatic cell deregulation. In this review, we compile the most relevant results concerning the effects of flavonoids on several aspects of pancreatic functionality. Studies using animals with drug-induced diabetes support the hypothesis that flavonoids can ameliorate this pathogenesis. The great diversity of flavonoid structures makes it difficult to establish common effects in the pancreas. Published data suggest that there might be direct effects of flavonoids on insulin secretion, as well as on prevention of beta-cell apoptosis, and they could even act via modulation of proliferation. The mechanisms of action involve mainly their antioxidant properties, but other pathways might also take place.
黄酮类化合物通常存在于水果和其他植物器官中，因此被广泛食用。它们具有抗氧化、抗炎、抗癌作用，并且对冠心病和代谢紊乱具有保护作用。这些有益作用使它们成为开发具有预防多种疾病潜在保护/预防特性的新型功能性食品的良好候选物。我们必须考虑到这一事实可能导致某些黄酮类化合物的摄入量增加。大多数关于它们有益作用的研究表明这些分子具有外周活性，但关于它们对代谢控制的关键器官——内分泌胰腺的中枢作用，尚无明确信息。胰腺具有调节营养物质代谢的重要内分泌功能，例如通过胰岛素和胰高血糖素的分泌来控制葡萄糖稳态。1型和/或2型糖尿病等多种疾病在某些方面与胰腺细胞失调有关，这一事实凸显了胰腺在全身营养平衡中的重要性。在这篇综述中，我们汇总了关于黄酮类化合物对胰腺功能多个方面影响的最相关结果。使用药物诱导糖尿病动物的研究支持了黄酮类化合物可以改善这种发病机制的假说。黄酮类化合物结构的巨大多样性使得难以在胰腺中确定共同的作用。已发表的数据表明，黄酮类化合物可能对胰岛素分泌有直接影响，以及对预防β细胞凋亡有作用，它们甚至可能通过调节增殖起作用。作用机制主要涉及其抗氧化特性，但也可能涉及其他途径。
