Obesity and Weight Management: The Efficacy of Herbal Products as Therapeutic Agents

Abstract

the weight status of persons (men, women) with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m 2 (class I obesity [30.0-34.9 kg/m 2 ], class II/class III [≥ 35.0 kg/ m 2]; 25.0-29.9 kg/m 2 (overweight); 18.5-24.9 kg/m 2 (lean) [2]. Healthcare practitioners believe BMI to be the preeminent biomarker, "gold standard, " that indicates elevated propensity for adiposity-related adverse health outcomes. A plethora of major scientific studies indicate that a BMI of 25.0 kg/m 2 and above may be a precursor of several non-communicable physiological disorders such as cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke), diabetes, cancer (endometrial, breast, colon), osteoarthritis etc. [3]. These diseases are listed amongst the leading causes of mortality [4]. Trend data obtained from 188 countries suggest that 30% (2.1 billion) of the world's population may be obese or overweight; in the years 1980-2013, developed and developing countries have shown a significant increase in obesity rates [5,6]. About one-third of adults and one-fifth of children in the US are considered obese (Figures 2-4) [7][8][9]. More definitive statistical studies reveal that in thirty states of the US, one in three children, age 10-17 years are either overweight or obese. It is believed that the medical expenditure of an obese youngster rises proportionally with BMI and may range from $5,340 to $29,460 over a lifetime. In 2003, the US government expended Volume: 2.3

The inhibitory effects of an eight-herb formula (RCM-107) on pancreatic lipase: enzymatic, HPTLC profiling and in silico approaches

“…However, the treatment outcomes are usually disappointing as a result of failing to maintain lifestyle modifications (Sun et al., 2016) or dropping out from treatments due to disturbing side effects such as faecal incontinence and abdominal pain (Chen, 2016; Lucas and Kaplan-Machlis, 2001; Rodgers et al., 2012). Therefore, herbal supplements including medicinal plant extracts and Chinese herbal medicine as well and their associated natural products, have a long history of assisting obese individuals with weight management have become popular alternatives (Er, 2016; Esteghamati et al., 2015; Sun et al., 2016).…”