Anti-obesity medicinal plants, spices and their bioactive phytochemicals: mechanisms and therapeutic evidence

Dhanalakshmi G

Department of Biochemistry, Padmashree Institute of Management and Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Refer this article

Dhanalakshmi G, 2026. Anti-obesity medicinal plants, spices and their bioactive phytochemicals: mechanisms and therapeutic evidence. Journal of medical pharmaceutical and allied sciences, V 15, I 2, Pages 29 – 34. Doi: https://doi.org/10.55522/jmpas.V15I2.7009

ABSTRACT

Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by abnormal or immoderate fat accumulation that harm health and increases the risk of numerous chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disorders, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), and certain cancers. Despite the availability of pharmacological products for obesity management, their long-term use is often connected with inadequate effect and adverse effects. From The past few years, medicinal plants and culinary spices have attracted significant attention as safer and effective alternatives for obesity control due to their rich content of bioactive phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and saponins. These phytochemicals regulate adipogenesis, lipid metabolism, appetite, thermogenesis, inflammation, insulin signaling, and gut microbiota composition through multiple molecular targets. This chapter provides a comprehensive, original, and critical review of anti-obesity medicinal plants and spices, their active phytochemicals, molecular mechanisms of action, preclinical and clinical evidence, safety considerations, limitations, and future research perspectives.

Keywords:

Obesity, Anti-obesity, Medicinal plants, Spices, Phytochemicals, Adipogenesis

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