New insights into the links between anti-diabetes drugs and gut microbiota

Abstract

In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the intestina l flora is out of balance and accompanied by leaky gut. The flora is characterized by an incre ase in mucus-degrading bacteria and a decrease in fiber-degrading bacteria. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), as the major fiber-degrading bacteria fermentation, not only amelio rate the leaky gut, but also activate GPR43 to increase the mass of functional pancreatic β-cells and exert anti-inflammation effect. At present, the gut microbiota is considered as the potential target for anti-diabetes drugs, and how to reverse the imbalance of gu t microbiota has become a therapeutic strategy for T2DM. This review briefly summarizes the drugs or compounds that have direct or potential therapeutic effects on T 2DM by modulating the gut microbiota, including biguanides, isoquinoline alkaloids, stilbene and C7N-aminocyclic alcohols.

Keywords

• gut microbiota
• leaky gut
• functional pancreatic β-cells
• short-chain fatty acids (scfas)
• anti-diabetes drugs
• type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2dm)