Sweet-Tasting Plants in regulating glucose metabolism: Mechanisms, applications and future directions

Sweet-Tasting Plants such as Stevia rebaudiana , Siraitia grosvenorii , and Glycyrrhiza glabra possess dual significance in traditional functional foods, serving both as natural sweeteners and metabolic modulators. This review systematically elaborates on the effects of these plants on glucose uptake, glycolysis, glycogen synthesis and breakdown, gluconeogenesis, and hormonal balance, while providing an in-depth analysis of the molecular mechanisms that underpin their regulation of glucose metabolism. It further summarizes the current applications of these Sweet-Tasting Plants in clinical antidiabetic therapeutics, functional foods, and natural sweeteners, alongside the challenges associated with their use, and proposes directions for future research. These insights establish a robust theoretical foundation for the prevention and control of metabolic diseases, as well as for the innovative development of functional foods, ultimately facilitating the integration of traditional medicine with modern pharmacology. • “Sweet” means “gan” in traditional Chinese medicine, which have a long history in the treatment of metabolic diseases. • Sweet-tasting plants modulate glucose metabolism. • Sweet-tasting plants have great potential in the development of hypoglycemic functional foods.