AMPK in microvascular complications of diabetes and the beneficial effects of AMPK activators from plants.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disorder with the risk of micro- and
macro-vascular complications. High glucose-induced derangements in metabolic pathways
are primarily associated with the initiation and progression of secondary complications
namely, diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. Adenosine monophosphateactivated protein kinase (AMPK) has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target to treat
various metabolic disorders including diabetes mellitus. It is a master metabolic regulator that
helps in maintaining cellular energy homeostasis by promoting ATP-generating catabolic
pathways and inhibiting ATP-consuming anabolic pathways. Numerous pharmacological and
plant-derived bioactive compounds that increase AMP-activated protein kinase activation has
shown beneficial effects by mitigating secondary complications namely retinopathy,
nephropathy, and neuropathy.
Purpose: The purpose of this review is to highlight current knowledge on the role of AMPK
and its activators from plant origin in diabetic microvascular complications.
Methods: Search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct and Web of
Science are used to extract papers using relevant key words. Papers mainly focusing on the
role of AMPK and AMPK activators from plant origin in diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy,
and neuropathy was chosen to be highlighted.
Results: According to results, decrease in AMPK activation during diabetes play a causative
role in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular complications. Some of the plant-derived
bioactive compounds were beneficial in restoring AMPK activity and ameliorating diabetic
microvascular complications.
Conclusion: AMPK activators from plant origin are beneficial in mitigating diabetic
microvascular complications. These pieces of evidence will be helpful in the development of
AMPK-centric therapies to mitigate diabetic microvascular complications.