ABSTRACT
The impact of excess calorie intake and reduced physical activity has been seen into exponential rise in obesity and prevalence of diabetes all over the world. The chronic hyperglycemia due to prolonged increase in blood glucose level due to defects in either insulin action/secretion or both results into dysfunction/long-term damage/failure of various vital organs, especially eyes, kidney, heart, and brain. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetes by mediating metabolic activities such as glucose oxidation, non-enzymatic oxidation of proteins, oxidative degradation of glycated proteins, and simultaneously challenges inherent defense mechanisms. Plant polyphenols are secondary metabolites that occur largely in fruits and vegetables, and have been reported to elicit medicinal properties. Various animal and clinical studies suggest that these bioactive compounds play an important role in the prevention of many chronic human diseases and promoting overall human health. In the present chapter, role and emerging mechanisms of plant polyphenols in intervening oxidative stress mediated diabetic complications have been described.
