Andrographolide promotes pancreatic duct cells differentiation into insulin-producing cells by targeting PDX-1.

Regeneration of β-cells by differentiation of pancreatic progenitor cells has the potential to fundamentally solve the problems of the loss of β-cell function and mass during disease progression in both type 1 or 2 diabetes. Therefore, discovery of novel differentiation inducers to promote islet regeneration is of great significance. Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox1 (PDX-1) is a key transcription factor that promotes the development and maturation of pancreatic β-cells.