A Systematic Review of the Herbal Medicinal Plants With Anti-Obesity Potential

Year : 2026 | Volume : 15 | Issue : 02 | Page : 31 38
By

Deeksha M,

Kavyashree R.V,

Ganavi R,

Bhumika Chettri,

Sahana S,

Manisha Bihani,

Raman Dang,

  1. Student, Department of Pharamacognosy, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  2. Student, Department of Pharamacognosy, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  3. Student, Department of Pharamacognosy, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  4. Student, Department of Pharamacognosy, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  5. Student, Department of Pharamacognosy, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  6. Associate Professor, Department of Pharamacognosy, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  7. Principal, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial metabolic condition characterized by abnormal fat accumulation. It is mainly driven by the intricate influence of genetic, environmental, hormonal, metabolic and lifestyle determinants. The burden of obesity has risen considerably over the past few years, making it one of the major health concerns in both developed and developing countries alike. The rapid increase globally in obesity prevalence is linked with numerous health complications such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and respiratory complications, creating a necessary and urgent need for the development of safer and more effective therapeutic strategies.  Although several synthetic anti-obesity drugs are available, due to their adverse effects and insufficient patient adherence, their long-term use is limited. Owing to the adverse effects of synthetic anti-obesity drugs, herbal medicinal plants offer safer therapeutic alternatives.  The present review comprehensively examines the currently available scientific evidence on herbal medicinal plants that possess anti-obesity properties, including the part of the plant used and the extraction methods. The synthesised evidence demonstrates that numerous herbal medicinal plants possess anti-obesity activity through diverse mechanisms, including appetite regulation, inhibition of lipid absorption, stimulation of lipolysis and thermogenesis, modulation of adipogenesis, increased energy expenditure, and enhanced glucose and lipid metabolism. This review was conducted by searching bibliographic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Medex, for studies. Although various promising anti-obesity effects are reported for various herbal medicinal plants, their successful clinical utilization continues to be challenged by inadequate robust clinical data, lack of formulation standardization, variations in phytochemical composition, and regulatory concerns. Collectively, the reviewed findings support the potential of herbal medicinal plants to show complementary approaches in the treatment and management of obesity. However, further well-designed clinical trials and standardization of herbal formulations and detailed studies are required to incorporate evidence-based clinical practices.

Keywords: Obesity, Anti-obesity activity, BMI(Body mass index), Complications, Pathophysiology, Mechanism of action, Herbal medicinal plants, Discussion.

[This article belongs to Research & Reviews : Journal of Herbal Science ]

How to cite this article: Deeksha M, Kavyashree R.V, Ganavi R, Bhumika Chettri, Sahana S, Manisha Bihani, Raman Dang. A Systematic Review of the Herbal Medicinal Plants With Anti-Obesity Potential. Research & Reviews : Journal of Herbal Science. 2026; 15(02):31-38.
How to cite this URL: Deeksha M, Kavyashree R.V, Ganavi R, Bhumika Chettri, Sahana S, Manisha Bihani, Raman Dang. A Systematic Review of the Herbal Medicinal Plants With Anti-Obesity Potential. Research & Reviews : Journal of Herbal Science. 2026; 15(02):31-38. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjohs/article=2026/view=248884

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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 15
Issue 02
Received 15/06/2026
Accepted 30/06/2026
Published 30/06/2026
Publication Time 15 Days

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