The effects of phytochemicals and herbal bio-active compounds on tumour necrosis factor-alpha in overweight and obese individuals: a clinical review

Abstract

Obesity is abnormal fat accumulation in the body which acts as a risk factor for various cardiometabolic states. Adipose tissue in excess can release inflammatory factors, including TNF-alpha and IL-6, and suppress adiponectin production. TNF-alpha increases the levels of IL-6 and acute phase reactants such as C-reactive protein. Inflammation has a crucial role in developing and progressing various cardiometabolic diseases and a wide range of obesity-related complications. It has been shown that TNF-alpha has a significant role in the development of insulin resistance. Recently, a growing body of evidence has focused on herbal medicine, phytochemicals and natural bioactive compounds as inexpensive, relatively easy accessible agents with low adverse effects to reduce inflammatory markers such as TNF-alpha and simultaneously decrease insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia in obesity. The main focus of the current review is to summarize the results of the studies, which assessed the effects of phytochemicals and herbal bio-active compounds on serum TNF-alpha in subjects with overweight or obesity. This review suggests that herbal medicine have favorable effects on the reduction of TNF-alpha concentration; however, the results were not uniform for different products. Among the reviewed plants, ginger, ginseng, resveratrol, and flaxseed had more promising effects.