editorial natural products for the treatment of obesity

EditorialNatural Products for the Treatment of Obesity, MetabolicSyndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes 2014

Menaka C. Thounaojam,1 Srinivas Nammi,2,3 and Ravirajsinh Jadeja4

1Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, Meharry Medical College School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37208, USA2School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia3National Institute for Complementary Medicine (NICM), University of Western Sydney, NSW 2751, Australia4Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta,GA 30912, USA

Correspondence should be addressed to Menaka C. Thounaojam; [email protected]

Received 8 October 2014; Accepted 8 October 2014

Copyright © 2015 Menaka C. Thounaojam et al.This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons AttributionLicense, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in anymedium, provided the originalwork is properly cited.

In the modern and contemporary world, the incidence ofobesity, metabolic syndrome, and type II diabetes is risingcontinuously due to modernization in life style and dietaryhabits. Herbal medicines have been shown to be beneficialagainst coexistence of these ailments. In 2013, we publisheda special issue on “Natural products for the treatment ofobesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes” in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM).After receiving an overwhelming number of submissions andsuccessful compilation of research/review articles in the firstseason, the decision to publish annual special issue on thissubject has been made by eCAM. Herein we present the 2014issue in this series. This special issue consists of 5 originalresearch papers and 4 review articles.

A study by S. J. Song et al. evaluated the potential ofdecaffeinated green coffee bean extract (DGCBE) in regu-lating diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance using amouse model. The authors showed that 0.3% supplemen-tation of DGCBE significantly reduces visceral adiposityand improved insulin resistance that can be attributed to5-caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) and other polyphenols. Thebenefits of DGCBE are further attributed to a possibledownregulation of the genes associated with adipogenesisand inflammation in the adipose tissue. This study suggestedthat decaffeinated green coffee beans can be used as atherapeutic agent against obesity and metabolic syndrome.Another study by H. M. Eid et al. reported that Lingonberry

(Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) intake improves blood glucose ina mouse model of diet-induced obesity without significantlyaffecting food intake or body weight. The proposed potentialmechanism is via enhanced expression of GLUT4 in skeletalmuscle and reduced hepatic steatosis. Collectively the authorsput forward the potential of Lingonberry in treating insulinresistance and obesity. Similarly, M. N. Abu et al. suggestedthat oral administration of Tinospora crispa crude extract tohigh fat diet-fed insulin resistant rats exhibits antidiabetic,antihypercholesterolemic, and hepatoprotective effects andthus could be useful in treating obesity in patients withinsulin resistance and type II diabetes.

A study by T. Park et al. reported antiadipogenic potentialof Alismatis rhizome. It was shown that AOE suppressesadipocyte differentiation in OP9 cells by downregulatingthe expression of C/EBP and consequently decreasing PPARand C/EBP levels. In another study, El-Houri and col-leagues performed screening of bioactivemetabolites in plantextracts that modulate glucose uptake and fat accumulation.The authors used various aerial and underground parts ofseven different plants to screen their efficacy in reducingglucose uptake and fat accumulation using different in vitroexperimental models. This screening study provides an idealplatform for further in-depth evaluation of these herbs inregulating insulin resistance and obesity.

The review articles in this special issue focus on theefficacy of herbal medicines in regulating diabetes, obesity,

Hindawi Publishing CorporationEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative MedicineVolume 2015, Article ID 392681, 2 pageshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/392681

2 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. An extensive review articleby L. Zhang et al. summarized the use of Chinese herbalmedicines mentioned in 54 famous ancient materia medicamonographs. The authors further discussed the availableexperimental studies on these herbs with their mechanismsof action and limitations. In another review, M. Getek andcolleagues discussed the antidiabetic potential of leguminousplant components focusing on both preclinical and clinicalresearch conducted from 2004 to 2014 and highlighted keybenefits with limitations. We sincerely hope that this type ofextensive reviewwill provide a future direction to the ongoingresearch in the field of herbal medicines and type 2 diabetes.P.-W.Chong et al. havemeticulously reviewed the efficacy andsafety of Litramine (IQP-G-002AS, an Opuntia ficus-indicaderived fiber) for weight management. This review articlementioned positive results for fecal fat excretion and weightloss and also discussed the safety aspects. In the last decade,the potential of herbal medicines in regulating nonalcoholicsteatohepatitis (NASH) has received much attention. In thiscontext, the review by Jadeja et al. extensively discussed thebeneficial role of various herbal extracts, phytocompounds,and polyherbal formulations in the management of NASH.

Collectively this special issue provides meticulous com-pilation of our current knowledge on the role of herbalmedicines in regulating obesity, metabolic syndrome, andtype 2 diabetes and possible future avenues that needs to befilled. We sincerely hope that this kind of annual issue serieswill have a long-term impact and can gather a communityaround it in a short time inmuch the sameway as a successfulannual conference does.

Acknowledgments

Firstly we express our sincere thanks and gratitude to theEditorial Board of eCAM for including our special issue asan annual issue. We would also like to thank contributors ofthis special issue for their scientifically sound research/reviewarticles.With great pleasure and respect we extend our thanksto the reviewers for critical assessment of each paper, theirconstructive criticisms, and timely response that made thisspecial issue possible.

Menaka C. ThounaojamSrinivas Nammi

Ravirajsinh Jadeja

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editorial natural products for the treatment of obesity

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