Abstract: The dysfunction of pancreatic insulin secretion is an important pathophysiological basis of diabetes mellitus and the active ingredients extracted from plants have the ability to regulate insulin secretion in the body. These active ingredients mainly include polysaccharides, flavonoids, terpenes, polyphenols, alkaloids and so on. Compared with oral hypoglycemic drugs on insulin secretion, the plant active ingredients regulating insulin secretion has the characteristics of low toxicity and small side effects, which arouses an extensive attention to their hypoglycemic research and development at home and abroad. This paper reviews the research models and regulation mechanisms of insulin secretion by natural plant active ingredients in recent years, which aims to provide scientific reference for the development of nature glucose-lowering products.