Abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα, PPARγ, and PPARδ) are physiological sensors for glucose and lipid homeostasis. They are also the targets of synthetic drugs; such as fibrates as PPARα agonists which lower lipid level, and glitazones as PPARγ agonists which lower glucose level. As diabetes and metabolic diseases are often associated with high blood glucose and lipid levels, drugs that activate both PPARα/γ would be a logical approach. But synthetically developed PPARα/γ dual agonists and glitazones are showing side effects such as weight gain and edema. Therefore, natural compounds and their close derivatives are focused as future drugs against metabolic diseases.