Genistein: A promising therapeutic agent for obesity and diabetes treatment

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are serious public health problems worldwide. Considerable efforts have highlighted the link between these two diseases. The high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and leptin, secreted by the adipose tissue, contribute actively to the insulin resistance induction; and the high levels of free fatty acids leads to an overproduction of reactive oxygen species that participate in pancreatic β cells failure and apoptosis. These two induced dysfunctions are the fundamental defects that precede type 2 diabetes. Genistein, an isoflavone present in a number of edible plants, has been reported as a potential therapeutic agent with anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoporosis effects and proposed as a promising compound for the treatment of metabolic disorders. The pleiotropic effects of genistein are due to its multiple mechanisms of action and the multitude of cell signaling pathways involved. Here, we review the effects of genistein on obesity and type 2 diabetes and emphasize on its action on adipocyte life-cycle, obesity-related low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress and the protective effects on pancreatic β cells.