Sartore Giovanni, Zagotto Giuseppe, Ragazzi Eugenio
Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy.
Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Nutrients. 2025 Aug 15;17(16):2653. doi: 10.3390/nu17162653.
Chlorophyll, the green pigment essential for photosynthesis, abundantly found in green vegetables and algae, has attracted growing scientific interest for its potential therapeutic effects, particularly in diabetes management. Recent research highlighted that chlorophyll and its derivatives may beneficially influence glucose metabolism and oxidative stress, key factors in diabetes. This review examines current knowledge on how chlorophyll compounds could aid diabetes control. Chlorophyll and its derivatives appear to support glucose regulation primarily through actions in the gastrointestinal tract. They modulate gut microbiota, improve glucose tolerance, reduce inflammation, and alleviate obesity-related markers. While chlorophyll itself does not directly inhibit digestive enzymes like α-glucosidase, its derivatives such as pheophorbide , pheophytin , and pyropheophytin may slow carbohydrate digestion, acting as α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors, reducing postprandial glucose spikes. Additionally, chlorophyll enhances resistant starch content, further controlling glucose absorption. Beyond digestion, chlorophyll derivatives show promise in inhibiting glycation processes, improving insulin sensitivity through nuclear receptor modulation, and lowering oxidative stress. However, some compounds pose risks due to photosensitizing effects and toxicity, warranting careful consideration. Chlorophyllin, a stable semi-synthetic derivative, also shows potential in improving glucose and lipid metabolism. Notably, pheophorbide demonstrates insulin-mimetic activity by stimulating glucose uptake via glucose transporters, offering a novel therapeutic avenue. Overall, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and insulin-mimicking properties of chlorophyll derivatives suggest a multifaceted approach to diabetes management. While promising, these findings require further clinical validation to establish effective therapeutic applications.
叶绿素是光合作用必需的绿色色素，大量存在于绿色蔬菜和藻类中，因其潜在的治疗作用，尤其是在糖尿病管理方面，已引起越来越多的科学关注。最近的研究强调，叶绿素及其衍生物可能对葡萄糖代谢和氧化应激产生有益影响，而这两者是糖尿病的关键因素。本综述探讨了关于叶绿素化合物如何有助于控制糖尿病的现有知识。叶绿素及其衍生物似乎主要通过在胃肠道中的作用来支持葡萄糖调节。它们调节肠道微生物群，改善葡萄糖耐量，减轻炎症，并减轻与肥胖相关的指标。虽然叶绿素本身并不直接抑制像α-葡萄糖苷酶这样的消化酶，但其衍生物如脱镁叶绿素、脱镁叶绿酸和焦脱镁叶绿酸可能会减缓碳水化合物的消化，充当α-淀粉酶和α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制剂，减少餐后血糖峰值。此外，叶绿素会增加抗性淀粉含量，进一步控制葡萄糖吸收。除了消化方面，叶绿素衍生物在抑制糖化过程、通过调节核受体改善胰岛素敏感性以及降低氧化应激方面也显示出前景。然而，一些化合物由于具有光敏作用和毒性而存在风险，需要仔细考虑。叶绿酸是一种稳定的半合成衍生物，在改善葡萄糖和脂质代谢方面也显示出潜力。值得注意的是，脱镁叶绿素通过刺激葡萄糖转运蛋白摄取葡萄糖而表现出胰岛素模拟活性，提供了一种新的治疗途径。总体而言，叶绿素衍生物的抗氧化、抗炎和胰岛素模拟特性表明了一种多方面的糖尿病管理方法。虽然前景广阔，但这些发现需要进一步的临床验证以确立有效的治疗应用。
