Current insights on the effects of medicinal plants in the management of obesity and infectious diseases: An update from 2020

Medicinal plants have long played a pivotal role in traditional medicine, and their integration into modern healthcare is gaining recognition for their potential in treating a range of conditions, including obesity and infectious diseases. Their bioactive compounds offer a natural, sustainable alter...

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Main Authors: Ezichi Favour Ofoezie, Chinwendu Angela Ogbonna, Ezinne Tiffany George, Chioma Juliet Anunobi, Sandra C. Olisakwe, Simeon Babarinde, Chidera Godson Chukwuemeka, Uzochukwu Eric Ogbonna, Chibuzo Collette Amafili, Justina Onyinyechi Omaba, Henry Nnaemeka Ogbonna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Aspects of Molecular Medicine
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949688825000139
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author Ezichi Favour Ofoezie
Chinwendu Angela Ogbonna
Ezinne Tiffany George
Chioma Juliet Anunobi
Sandra C. Olisakwe
Simeon Babarinde
Chidera Godson Chukwuemeka
Uzochukwu Eric Ogbonna
Chibuzo Collette Amafili
Justina Onyinyechi Omaba
Henry Nnaemeka Ogbonna
author_facet Ezichi Favour Ofoezie
Chinwendu Angela Ogbonna
Ezinne Tiffany George
Chioma Juliet Anunobi
Sandra C. Olisakwe
Simeon Babarinde
Chidera Godson Chukwuemeka
Uzochukwu Eric Ogbonna
Chibuzo Collette Amafili
Justina Onyinyechi Omaba
Henry Nnaemeka Ogbonna
author_sort Ezichi Favour Ofoezie
collection DOAJ
description Medicinal plants have long played a pivotal role in traditional medicine, and their integration into modern healthcare is gaining recognition for their potential in treating a range of conditions, including obesity and infectious diseases. Their bioactive compounds offer a natural, sustainable alternative to synthetic drugs, with significant therapeutic benefits. This review focuses on the recent advances of medicinal plants in addressing two major global health challenges: obesity and infectious diseases. In modern medicine, these plants are valued for their ability to manage weight by influencing metabolic processes such as fat oxidation, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation. Additionally, their antimicrobial properties offer effective solutions against drug-resistant pathogens, presenting a complementary approach to conventional treatments. Through a comprehensive analysis of bioactive compounds, the review investigates their mechanisms, including enzyme inhibition, modulation of immune response, and disruption of microbial growth and biofilm formation. Key findings indicate that these phytochemicals demonstrate both anti-obesity and antimicrobial activities, with potential to reduce inflammation, improve metabolic health, and combat drug-resistant infections. In essence, medicinal plants hold significant promise as natural therapeutic agents for managing obesity and infectious diseases. Their ability to target multiple biological pathways simultaneously makes them effective in addressing the complex interplay between metabolic disorders and immune dysfunction.
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spelling doaj-art-eb3e6320d94d43b196cdba13d259d7812025-08-20T02:54:39ZengElsevierAspects of Molecular Medicine2949-68882025-06-01510007510.1016/j.amolm.2025.100075Current insights on the effects of medicinal plants in the management of obesity and infectious diseases: An update from 2020Ezichi Favour Ofoezie0Chinwendu Angela Ogbonna1Ezinne Tiffany George2Chioma Juliet Anunobi3Sandra C. Olisakwe4Simeon Babarinde5Chidera Godson Chukwuemeka6Uzochukwu Eric Ogbonna7Chibuzo Collette Amafili8Justina Onyinyechi Omaba9Henry Nnaemeka Ogbonna10Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria; Corresponding author.Department of Microbiology, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, NigeriaDivision of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USDepartment of Anatomy, University of Nigeria Nsukka, NigeriaDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USDepartment of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, UKDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, NigeriaDepartment of Mathematics, Imo State University, Owerri, NigeriaDepartment of Nursing, Ebonyi State University, NigeriaDepartment of Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, NigeriaDepartment of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria; Corresponding author.Medicinal plants have long played a pivotal role in traditional medicine, and their integration into modern healthcare is gaining recognition for their potential in treating a range of conditions, including obesity and infectious diseases. Their bioactive compounds offer a natural, sustainable alternative to synthetic drugs, with significant therapeutic benefits. This review focuses on the recent advances of medicinal plants in addressing two major global health challenges: obesity and infectious diseases. In modern medicine, these plants are valued for their ability to manage weight by influencing metabolic processes such as fat oxidation, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation. Additionally, their antimicrobial properties offer effective solutions against drug-resistant pathogens, presenting a complementary approach to conventional treatments. Through a comprehensive analysis of bioactive compounds, the review investigates their mechanisms, including enzyme inhibition, modulation of immune response, and disruption of microbial growth and biofilm formation. Key findings indicate that these phytochemicals demonstrate both anti-obesity and antimicrobial activities, with potential to reduce inflammation, improve metabolic health, and combat drug-resistant infections. In essence, medicinal plants hold significant promise as natural therapeutic agents for managing obesity and infectious diseases. Their ability to target multiple biological pathways simultaneously makes them effective in addressing the complex interplay between metabolic disorders and immune dysfunction.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949688825000139Infectious diseaseObesityMedicinal plantsPhytochemicalsMechanism
spellingShingle Ezichi Favour Ofoezie
Chinwendu Angela Ogbonna
Ezinne Tiffany George
Chioma Juliet Anunobi
Sandra C. Olisakwe
Simeon Babarinde
Chidera Godson Chukwuemeka
Uzochukwu Eric Ogbonna
Chibuzo Collette Amafili
Justina Onyinyechi Omaba
Henry Nnaemeka Ogbonna
Current insights on the effects of medicinal plants in the management of obesity and infectious diseases: An update from 2020
Aspects of Molecular Medicine
Infectious disease
Obesity
Medicinal plants
Phytochemicals
Mechanism
title Current insights on the effects of medicinal plants in the management of obesity and infectious diseases: An update from 2020
title_full Current insights on the effects of medicinal plants in the management of obesity and infectious diseases: An update from 2020
title_fullStr Current insights on the effects of medicinal plants in the management of obesity and infectious diseases: An update from 2020
title_full_unstemmed Current insights on the effects of medicinal plants in the management of obesity and infectious diseases: An update from 2020
title_short Current insights on the effects of medicinal plants in the management of obesity and infectious diseases: An update from 2020
title_sort current insights on the effects of medicinal plants in the management of obesity and infectious diseases an update from 2020
topic Infectious disease
Obesity
Medicinal plants
Phytochemicals
Mechanism
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949688825000139
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