Diabetes is a metabolic and endocrine disorder,which poses a threat to human health with the increasing incidence of diabetes.In recent years,saponins have attracted wide attention because of their hypoglycemic activity.The regulation of hypoglycemic activity of saponins can be achieved through multiple targets and signal pathways,including insulin signaling pathway,carbohydrate-based metabolic pathway,endoplasmic reticulum stress regulatory pathway,PPAR regulatory pathway and free fatty acid promoting insulin secretion and multiple pathways.Starting with the hypoglycemic signal pathway,this article reviews the hypoglycemic effect and mechanism of saponins in recent ten years,in order to provide reference for the further development and application of hypoglycemic activity of saponins,as well as the treatment and prevention of diabetes.