https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4162-1511
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Abstract
In recent years, obesity has become a global public health issue. It is closely associated with the occurrence of several chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Some edible and medicinal plants show anti-obesity activity, such as fruits, vegetables, spices, legumes, edible flowers, mushrooms, and medicinal plants. Numerous studies have indicated that these plants are potential candidates for the prevention and management of obesity. The major anti-obesity mechanisms of plants include suppressing appetite, reducing the absorption of lipids and carbohydrates, inhibiting adipogenesis and lipogenesis, regulating lipid metabolism, increasing energy expenditure, regulating gut microbiota, and improving obesity-related inflammation. In this review, the anti-obesity activity of edible and medicinal plants was summarized based on epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies, with related mechanisms discussed, which provided the basis for the research and development of slimming products. Further studies should focus on the exploration of safer plants with anti-obesity activity and the identification of specific anti-obesity mechanisms.
Disclosure statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Abbreviations
| AMPK | = | AMP-activated protein kinase |
| BAT | = | brown adipose tissue |
| C/EBP | = | CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein |
| CPT-1 | = | carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 |
| ERK1/2 | = | extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 |
| FAS | = | fatty acid synthase |
| HFD | = | high-fat diet |
| HSL | = | hormone sensitive lipase |
| IFN | = | interferon |
| JNK | = | Jun N-terminal kinase |
| LPL | = | lipoprotein lipase |
| LXR | = | liver X receptor |
| MAPK | = | mitogen-activated protein kinase |
| MCP-1 | = | monocyte chemotactic protein-1 |
| NF-κB | = | nuclear factor-κB |
| Nfr1 | = | nuclear respiratory factor 1 |
| NPY | = | neuropeptide Y |
| PKA | = | protein kinase A |
| POMC | = | proopiomelanocortin |
| PPAR | = | peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor |
| SREBP-1c | = | sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c |
| TNF-α | = | tumor necrosis factor-α |
| UCP | = | uncoupling protein |
| USP2 | = | ubiquitin specific peptidase 2 |
| WAT | = | white adipose tissue |
| α-MSH | = | α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone |