New Phytochemical Compounds for Prevention or Reduction of Diabesity

Towards the end of the last century, the researchshowed that several vegetables and medicinal plants have hypoglycemic potential and therefore may exhibit a positive effect in reducing hyperglycemia in the human body. In vitro and in vivo studies support the antidiabetic effects of polyphenols extracted from berries, black currants, raspberries, and strawberries fruits, out of which the most important are the anthocyanins. Among anthocyanins, the most commonly identified in berries are cyanidin, delfinidine, malvidin, pelargonidine, peonidine and petunidine. Within this chapter, we present the importance of phenolic compounds in the diabetic diet, two plants Helianthus tuberosus and Momordica charantia L. with beneficial effects in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and their mechanisms of action. Also, the market of food supplements currently existing in Romania is presented, along with the products and their form of presentation. nbsp;