2015, Pages 373–403
Chapter 18 – Botanicals as Medicinal Food and Their Effects against Obesity
Abstract
Obesity
is one type of metabolic syndrome, causes excess fat accumulation in
the torso, resulting health problems like diabetes, hypertension, and
dyslipidemia. As per World Health Organization, large population of the
world is suffering from obesity and obesity associated disorders.
R&D sectors of pharmaceutical companies around the globe are making
several efforts to find effective antiobesity drugs. Despite that not
many of the drug candidates pass all phases of clinical trials.
Researchers in this field are instantly concerned to hunt
nonconventional approach to the prevention and treatment of obesity.
Herbs as food have a promising future in this regard. It has a
beneficial effect over conventional food because it has provided
therapeutic value in addition to nutritional supplement, in a way
relevant to improved state of wellness and well-being which in turn
reduce the risk of disease. Many plants and plant-derived products have
been discussed in this chapter, which have potential activity against
metabolic disorder such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, insulin
resistance, and hyperglycemia and they exert their effect through
multiple mechanisms.
Keywords
- Adipose tissue;
- Antiobesity;
- Dietary fiber;
- Functional food;
- Medicinal plants;
- Organosulfurans;
- Phytochemical
Acknowledgment
The
authors wish to express their gratitude to Indian Council of Medical
Research (File-45/43/2010/BMS/TRM) Govt. of India, New Delhi, for
providing financial support through Research Associateship to Kakali
Mukherjee.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
