Roles of phytometabolites in the management of obesity

Abstract

Obesity is one of the leading causes of death because it is associated with most metabolic disorders in the body such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and cancers. Herbs are known to be natural sources of medicines. Scientists are working toward making plants the best alternative to synthetic drugs, majorly because it has no side effects, is low price and easily accessible, and offers solution to most chronic diseases, among others. Medicinally, constituents of plants are safer for consumption when based on therapeutic formulations. Important phytomolecules such as alkaloids, phenols, saponin, terpenoids, and flavonoids have been discovered to have anti-obesity properties. Most of these plant extracts are a mixture of different molecules, and not a single compound. The phytomolecules would exert their anti-obesity effect through their mechanism by acting on certain organ and cellular systems. This review tends to discuss briefly some of the major phytometabolities that have anti-obesity properties and the mechanism in which they execute their effects.