## 5 Medicinal Plants and Obesity
In Brazil, some of the most important species with great effective anti-obesity properties are _Anmonia muricata_ L. and _Hancorniaspeciosa_ [PERSON], _Bacchuris trimera_ (Less.) [PERSON], _Camelia sinensis_ (L.) [PERSON], and _Hibiscus sabadariffa_ L., showing some beneficial activity against obesity [109]. A natural pigment that mainly exists in the mature fruit of tomatoes is called lycopene, which effectively contributes to protecting against obesity and diabetes in animal stud ies [110]. Wines and grape berries are reported as the principal sources of stilbenes in human nutrition, which can alleviate the adverse effect of obesity by regulating various pathways [111]. By-products of guava and acerola can be applied as a sustainable alternative in the treatment of obesity [112]. Rosmarinic acid prevents excessive lipid accumulation and inflammation in human adipocytes, which shows its great potency for treatment of obesity-related inflammation [113]. Garlic extract in combination with ginger can prevent obesity in rats, and improved antioxidant enzyme's activity [114]. A bioactive compound in celery (_Apium gravelens_) is 3-N-butylphthalalide (NBP), which blocks the inflammatory response and regulates fat browning in HFD-induced obese mice, which indicates its effectiveness in combating obesity and its related metabolic disorders [115]. Various natural agents have been discovered for their obesity treatment potential such as _Garcinia cambogia_, apple cider, green tea, _Panax ginseng_, chia seeds, etc. [116]. _Withania somifera_ Dual presented blood glucose-lowering and diuretic impacts in humans, comparable to daonil [117]. Acia (_Eutere oleracea_ [PERSON]) fruit anthocyanins decreased high-fat diet-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis, and increased high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance [118]. One of the promising anti-obesity agents is coffee fruit and oneof the traditional Chinese medicines is Caffeic acid [119]. Berberine is found to have an effective influence on gene regulation for the absorption of cholesterol at a daily dose of 300 mg in humans [120]. A classic traditional Chinese herb medicine which is called Wu-Mei-Wan can prevent obesity and its underlying mechanisms through attenuating white adipose tissue and increasing brown adipose tissue function [121]. Isolated Tomatidine from the green fruits and leaves of some plants in the Solanaceae family may significantly suppress the expression of fatty acid synthase and transcription factors are involved in lipogenesis and improve the expression of adipose triglyceride lipase, promoting the sirtuin 1 (sirt1)/ AMPK signaling pathway to boost lipolysis and \(\beta\)-oxidation in fatty liver cells [122]. _Hibiscus_ (_Hibiscus shizopetalous_; _Hibiscus subdariffa_), _Argel_ (_Solenostemma argel_), and _Caralluma_ (_Caralluma quadrangular_; _Caralluma tuberculata_) are famous traditional medicinal plants, and _Argel_ indicated the highest inhibitory activity against lipase, \(\alpha\)-amylase, and \(\alpha\)-glucosidase enzymes, and the strongest lipase inhibitory activity was reported for the pregnane glycoside, and stemmoside C [123]. Roselle (_Hibiscus subdariffa_) showed adipogenesis, reduced oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, and increased obesity-induced insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity [124]. EGCG, kaempferol, and quercetin have shown significant potent capability of anti-obesity activities [125; 126]. Grape seed flour (GSF) prevented diet-induced obesity in C57 BL/6] mice [127]. Procyanidins are a group of flavonoids, showing anti-obesity effects and increased metabolic flexibility and energy expenditure [128]. _Crataegus pubescens_ and _Ocimum sanctum_ ameliorated obesity and hyperglycemia in obese rats, reduced adipocyte hypertrophy, and can be introduced as ingredients for the elaboration of functional beverages [129].