Obesity, characterized by excessive body fat accumulation, is a major health concern worldwide, causing millions of deaths and immense economic strain annually. Despite various treatments like lifestyle changes, medications, and even surgeries, long-term solutions with fewer side effects remain elusive. This paper explores promising natural substances from plants and the body’s own peptides as potential new treatments for obesity.
It discusses how these substances can target three main processes: reducing appetite, limiting nutrient absorption, and boosting energy expenditure. Plant-based compounds like betulinic acid and crocin, and peptides such as GLP1 and amylin, have shown potential for reducing weight. These natural solutions may also have fewer side effects compared to synthetic drugs. The review highlights how combining strategies, such as suppressing calorie intake while enhancing energy usage, could offer better results in managing obesity.
Full text: Xiaomu Zhu, Dongdong Wang, Atanas G. Atanasov, A review: Anti-obesity drug discovery from natural plant metabolites and endogenous peptides, Current Research in Biotechnology, Volume 8, 2024, 100259, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crbiot.2024.100259