TAS2R38 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Berberine can induce GLP-1 secretion through various pathways, thereby exerting its therapeutic effects on type 2 diabetes; for example, berberine can specifically activate the bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 in intestinal enteroendocrine STC-1 cells, relying on the phospho-lipase C (PLC) signaling pathway, thereby stimulating the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which in turn promotes insulin secretion to improve type 2 diabetes [116].