Anti-obesity and Anti-aging Natural Products

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2024) | Viewed by 14356

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: metabolic syndrome; diabetes; osteoporosis; liver steatosis; nanoparticles; drug delivery; HPLC; spectrophotometer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratoy of Pharmaceutical Biology, IRC-FSH, Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: medicinal plants; extraction and isolation of compounds of natural origin; phytochemical analysis; biological activity
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aging represents a progressive physiological senescence or a decline in biological functioning. Several cofactors can accelerate and promote this physiological phenomenon, including obesity, a condition expected to affect around one billion people by 2030.

In order to reduce medications and their related adverse effects, there is a growing interest in natural products that can mitigate or resolve pathologies as well as counteract the aging process. Indeed, different natural products might boost metabolism, suppress appetite, inhibit fat absorption, and help to reduce the signs of aging by combating free radicals, promoting skin health, and supporting cellular repair.

For this reason, we aim to develop a Special Issue for Pharmaceuticals that identifies “Anti-obesity and Anti-aging Natural Products”: those substances derived from plants, herbs, and other natural sources that are supposed to combat obesity or slow down physiological aging processes.

Dr. Rosario Mare
Dr. Vincenzo Musolino
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • anti-obesity
  • anti-aging
  • natural products
  • herbal remedies
  • antioxidants
  • weight management
  • aging prevention
  • phytochemicals
  • botanical extracts
  • metabolic health
  • healthy aging

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2076 KiB  
Article
Zibibbo Grape Seeds’ Polyphenolic Profile: Effects on Bone Turnover and Metabolism
by Mariagiovanna Settino, Samantha Maurotti, Luca Tirinato, Simona Greco, Anna Rita Coppoletta, Antonio Cardamone, Vincenzo Musolino, Tiziana Montalcini, Arturo Pujia and Rosario Mare
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(11), 1418; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17111418 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 918
Abstract
Background: The consumption of seeds as food has become increasingly common due to their numerous health benefits. Among these, the seeds of the Zibibbo grape from Pantelleria, a native species of southern Italy, remain largely unexplored and are usually considered waste material from [...] Read more.
Background: The consumption of seeds as food has become increasingly common due to their numerous health benefits. Among these, the seeds of the Zibibbo grape from Pantelleria, a native species of southern Italy, remain largely unexplored and are usually considered waste material from viticulture. Nevertheless, Zibibbo grape seeds may offer health benefits, particularly for the elderly and people with metabolic disorders, due to their potential content of beneficial compounds such as polyphenols. Methods: The Zibibbo grape seeds extract (ZSE) was characterized using UV-visible spectrophotometry and HPLC chromatography. The antioxidant activity of ZSE was measured by different colorimetric assays and Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). Additionally, specific in vitro tests were conducted on human osteoblast cell lines (Saos-2 and MG63) aiming to evaluate the ZSE’s effects on bone turnover and metabolism. Western blotting was used to assess the impact on specific proteins and pathways related to bone health. Results: The ZSE contained almost ~3 mg/mL of carbohydrates and phenolic compounds, including rutin (~6.4 ppm) and hesperidin (~44.6 ppm). The extracts exhibited an antioxidant activity greater than 90% across all tests performed. Moreover, the Zibibbo seed extracts exerted a significant proliferative effect on the Saos-2 cell human osteoblast-like cell line, also modulating the phosphorylation of specific kinases involved in cell health and metabolism. Conclusions: Zibibbo grape seeds are rich in phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids with strong antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. ZSE demonstrated beneficial effects on bone metabolism and osteoblast proliferation, suggesting potential for counteracting osteodegenerative conditions like osteoporosis. If confirmed through further studies, Zibibbo grape seed phenolic compounds could serve as an adjunctive therapy for osteoporosis, helping to slow aging and bone degeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-obesity and Anti-aging Natural Products)
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18 pages, 5987 KiB  
Article
Bixin Combined with Metformin Ameliorates Insulin Resistance and Antioxidant Defenses in Obese Mice
by Camila Graça Pinheiro, Bruno Pereira Motta, Juliana Oriel Oliveira, Felipe Nunes Cardoso, Ingrid Delbone Figueiredo, Rachel Temperani Amaral Machado, Patrícia Bento da Silva, Marlus Chorilli, Iguatemy Lourenço Brunetti and Amanda Martins Baviera
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(9), 1202; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17091202 - 12 Sep 2024
Viewed by 876
Abstract
Bixin (C25H30O4; 394.51 g/mol) is the main apocarotenoid found in annatto seeds. It has a 25-carbon open chain structure with a methyl ester group and carboxylic acid. Bixin increases the expression of antioxidant enzymes, which may be [...] Read more.
Bixin (C25H30O4; 394.51 g/mol) is the main apocarotenoid found in annatto seeds. It has a 25-carbon open chain structure with a methyl ester group and carboxylic acid. Bixin increases the expression of antioxidant enzymes, which may be interesting for counteracting oxidative stress. This study investigated whether bixin-rich annatto extract combined with metformin was able to improve the disturbances observed in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice, with an emphasis on markers of oxidative damage and antioxidant defenses. HFD-fed mice were treated for 8 weeks with metformin (50 mg/kg) plus bixin-rich annatto extract (5.5 and 11 mg/kg). This study assessed glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile and paraoxonase 1 (PON-1) activity in plasma, fluorescent AGEs (advanced glycation end products), TBARSs (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the liver and kidneys. Treatment with bixin plus metformin decreased body weight gain, improved insulin sensitivity, and decreased AGEs and TBARSs in the plasma, liver, and kidneys. Bixin plus metformin increased the activities of PON-1, SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px. Bixin combined with metformin improved the endogenous antioxidant defenses in the obese mice, showing that this combined therapy may have the potential to contrast the metabolic complications resulting from oxidative stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-obesity and Anti-aging Natural Products)
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14 pages, 2660 KiB  
Article
Docosatrienoic Acid Inhibits Melanogenesis Partly through Suppressing the Intracellular MITF/Tyrosinase Axis
by Kyoung Mi Moon, Min-Kyeoun Lee, Su-Yeon Park, Jaeseong Seo, Ah-reum Kim and Bonggi Lee
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(9), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17091198 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1064
Abstract
Melanogenesis, essential for skin photoprotection and pigmentation, can lead to disorders like melasma and hyperpigmentation, which are challenging to treat and affect quality of life. Docosatrienoic acid (DTA), a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid, has been identified as a potential regulator of skin aging. [...] Read more.
Melanogenesis, essential for skin photoprotection and pigmentation, can lead to disorders like melasma and hyperpigmentation, which are challenging to treat and affect quality of life. Docosatrienoic acid (DTA), a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid, has been identified as a potential regulator of skin aging. This study investigates DTA’s effects on melanogenesis and its underlying molecular mechanisms using in silico and in vitro analyses. SwissSimilarity analysis revealed that DTA shares close structural similarities with known anti-melanogenic lipids, suggesting it may inhibit melanogenesis in similar manners. Our results demonstrated that DTA reduces melanin content and intracellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells, significantly downregulating the mRNA expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 by inhibiting MITF translocation to the nucleus. While DTA exhibited mild inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase activity and antioxidant properties at higher concentrations, direct inhibition of tyrosinase is likely not the primary mechanism, as the observed anti-melanogenic effects occurred at much lower concentrations compared to those required for direct tyrosinase inhibition. Together, DTA-mediated modulation of MITF and tyrosinase mRNA expression offers a novel approach to treating hyperpigmentation. DTA’s potential extends into the cosmetic industry, enhancing product stability, functionality, and aesthetics. Further research is needed to explore DTA’s broader applications in skincare and cosmetic formulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-obesity and Anti-aging Natural Products)
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14 pages, 3821 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Anti-Obesity Effects of Euphorbia Kansui Extract through Macrophage and Gut Microbiota Modulation: A Real-World Clinical and In Vivo Study
by Ji-Won Noh, Jung-Hwa Yoo and Byung-Cheol Lee
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(9), 1131; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17091131 - 27 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1285
Abstract
Rising obesity and associated multi-systemic complications amplify the health burden. Euphorbia kansui (EK) extract is clinically recognized for managing obesity. In a human study, 240 obese individuals were categorized into two cohorts: those receiving solely herbal medicine (HM group) and those administered EK [...] Read more.
Rising obesity and associated multi-systemic complications amplify the health burden. Euphorbia kansui (EK) extract is clinically recognized for managing obesity. In a human study, 240 obese individuals were categorized into two cohorts: those receiving solely herbal medicine (HM group) and those administered EK concomitantly with herbal medicine (EK group). An in vivo examination using C57BL/6-Lepob/Lepob mice elucidated mechanisms involving macrophages and gut microbiota with associated metabolic advantages. The clinical study revealed a significant 7.22% body weight reduction during 91.55 average treatment days and examined 16.71% weight loss at 300 days after treatment. In whole subjects, 60.4%, 21.3%, and 6.3% achieved weight reductions exceeding 5%, 10%, and 15%, respectively. Impressively, the EK group exhibited superior weight loss compared to the HM group (EK: −7.73% vs. HM: −6.27%, p = 0.012). The anti-obesity effect was positively associated with EK therapy frequency and herbal medicine duration. In the in vivo study, EK significantly improved insulin sensitivity and mitigated infiltration of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) by modulating the CD11c+ and CD206+ subtypes. EK also correlated with increased Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes populations and reduced Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. Consequently, EK is an effective adjunctive anti-obesity therapy offering metabolic benefits by modulating ATMs and gut microbiota profiles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-obesity and Anti-aging Natural Products)
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13 pages, 2100 KiB  
Article
Lipid-Lowering and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Campomanesia adamantium Leaves in Adipocytes and Caenorhabditis elegans
by Paola dos Santos da Rocha, Sarah Lam Orué, Isamara Carvalho Ferreira, Priscilla Pereira de Toledo Espindola, Maria Victória Benites Rodrigues, José Tarcísio Giffoni de Carvalho, Debora da Silva Baldivia, Daniel Ferreira Leite, Helder Freitas dos Santos, Alex Santos Oliveira, Jaqueline Ferreira Campos, Edson Lucas dos Santos and Kely de Picoli Souza
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(8), 1062; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17081062 - 13 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1364
Abstract
Obesity is a pandemic disease characterized by lipid accumulation, increased proinflammatory cytokines, and reactive oxygen species. It is associated with the development of comorbidities that lead to death. Additionally, drug treatments developed to control obesity are insufficient and have a variety of adverse [...] Read more.
Obesity is a pandemic disease characterized by lipid accumulation, increased proinflammatory cytokines, and reactive oxygen species. It is associated with the development of comorbidities that lead to death. Additionally, drug treatments developed to control obesity are insufficient and have a variety of adverse effects. Thus, the search for new anti-obesity therapies is necessary. Campomanesia adamantium is a species from the Brazilian Cerrado that has the potential to treat obesity, as described by the antihyperlipidemic activity of its roots. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the activity of the aqueous extract of C. adamantium leaves (AECa) on the control of reactive species in vitro, on lipid accumulation in adipocytes and Caenorhabditis elegans, and on the production of proinflammatory cytokines in adipocytes. The antioxidant capacity of AECa was observed by its action in scavenging DPPH free radical, iron-reducing power, and inhibition of β-carotene bleaching. AECa reduced lipid accumulation in preadipocytes and in C. elegans. Moreover, AECa reduced the production of the proinflammatory cytokines MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 in adipocytes. In summary, the antioxidant activity and the ability of AECa to reduce the accumulation of lipids and proinflammatory cytokines indicate, for the first time, the anti-obesity potential of C. adamantium leaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-obesity and Anti-aging Natural Products)
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18 pages, 2940 KiB  
Article
Neuroprotective Effects of Glycyrrhiza glabra Total Extract and Isolated Compounds
by Ali O. E. Eltahir, Sylvester I. Omoruyi, Tanya N. Augustine, Robert C. Luckay and Ahmed A. Hussein
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(7), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17070852 - 28 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1522
Abstract
Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is a plant commonly utilized in herbal medicine and stands out as one of the more extensively researched medicinal plants globally. It has been documented with respect to several pharmacological activities, notably, neuroprotective effects, among others. However, the neuroprotective activity [...] Read more.
Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is a plant commonly utilized in herbal medicine and stands out as one of the more extensively researched medicinal plants globally. It has been documented with respect to several pharmacological activities, notably, neuroprotective effects, among others. However, the neuroprotective activity of pure phenolic compounds has not been reported yet. The chromatographic of a methanolic extract yielded twenty-two compounds, viz.: naringenin 4′-O-glucoside (1), 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavanone (butin) (2), liquiritin (3), liquiritin apioside (4), abyssinone (5), glabrol (6), isoliquiritin (7), neoisoliquiritin (8), isoliquiritin apioside (9), licuraside (10). 3’[O], 4’-(2,2-dimethylpyrano)-3,7-dihydroxyflavanone (11), glabrocoumarin (12), glabrene (13), isomedicarpin (14), 7-hydroxy-4′-methoxyflavone (formononetin) (15), ononin (16), glycyroside (17), (3S)-7,4′-dihydroxy-2′-methoxyisoflavan (18), glabridin (19), neoliquiritin (20), 3,11-dioxooleana-1,12-dien-29-oic acid (21), and 3-oxo-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (22). The results of the neuroprotection evaluation showed that G. glabra total extract (TE) and compounds 1, 7, 11, 16, and 20 protected SH-SY5Y cells by inhibiting the depletion of ATP and elevated caspase 3/7 activities induced by MPP+. Indeed, this study reports for the first time the structure and activity of compound 11 and the neuroprotective activity of some phenolic constituents from G. glabra. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-obesity and Anti-aging Natural Products)
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Review

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54 pages, 2198 KiB  
Review
Medicinal Plant Extracts against Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Associated with Obesity: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets
by Jorge Gutiérrez-Cuevas, Daniel López-Cifuentes, Ana Sandoval-Rodriguez, Jesús García-Bañuelos and Juan Armendariz-Borunda
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(7), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17070967 - 21 Jul 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3198
Abstract
Obesity has increasingly become a worldwide epidemic, as demonstrated by epidemiological and clinical studies. Obesity may lead to the development of a broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, and [...] Read more.
Obesity has increasingly become a worldwide epidemic, as demonstrated by epidemiological and clinical studies. Obesity may lead to the development of a broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. In addition to hypertension, there are other cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs) such as visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, elevated levels of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein, and others, all of which increase the risk of CVD events. The mechanisms involved between obesity and CVD mainly include insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, and adipokine dysregulation, which cause maladaptive structural and functional alterations of the heart, particularly left-ventricular remodeling and diastolic dysfunction. Natural products of plants provide a diversity of nutrients and different bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, carotenoids, anthocyanins, vitamins, minerals, fibers, and others, which possess a wide range of biological activities including antihypertensive, antilipidemic, antidiabetic, and other activities, thus conferring cardiometabolic benefits. In this review, we discuss the main therapeutic interventions using extracts from herbs and plants in preclinical and clinical trials with protective properties targeting CRFs. Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets of herb and plant extracts for the prevention and treatment of CRFs are also reviewed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-obesity and Anti-aging Natural Products)
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35 pages, 1938 KiB  
Review
White-to-Beige and Back: Adipocyte Conversion and Transcriptional Reprogramming
by Stanislav Boychenko, Vera S. Egorova, Andrew Brovin and Alexander D. Egorov
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(6), 790; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17060790 - 16 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3291
Abstract
Obesity has become a pandemic, as currently more than half a billion people worldwide are obese. The etiology of obesity is multifactorial, and combines a contribution of hereditary and behavioral factors, such as nutritional inadequacy, along with the influences of environment and reduced [...] Read more.
Obesity has become a pandemic, as currently more than half a billion people worldwide are obese. The etiology of obesity is multifactorial, and combines a contribution of hereditary and behavioral factors, such as nutritional inadequacy, along with the influences of environment and reduced physical activity. Two types of adipose tissue widely known are white and brown. While white adipose tissue functions predominantly as a key energy storage, brown adipose tissue has a greater mass of mitochondria and expresses the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) gene, which allows thermogenesis and rapid catabolism. Even though white and brown adipocytes are of different origin, activation of the brown adipocyte differentiation program in white adipose tissue cells forces them to transdifferentiate into “beige” adipocytes, characterized by thermogenesis and intensive lipolysis. Nowadays, researchers in the field of small molecule medicinal chemistry and gene therapy are making efforts to develop new drugs that effectively overcome insulin resistance and counteract obesity. Here, we discuss various aspects of white-to-beige conversion, adipose tissue catabolic re-activation, and non-shivering thermogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anti-obesity and Anti-aging Natural Products)
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