Adipogenesis, Role of Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) and Use of Plants Products in Combating Obesity

The increasingly widespread emergence of obesity has become a matter of critical concern around the world due to its association with common morbidities including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Over-nutrition and the sedentary lifestyle are considered as the most significant causes of obesity: appropriate lifestyle and behavior interventions are the corner stones of successful weight loss, but to maintain such a lifestyle is highly challenging. There is therefore an urgent need to develop innovative non- or minimally-toxic means to combat obesity. Accordingly, ample natural products from plants (either as crude extracts or purified phytochemicals) have been scrutinized for their anti-obesogenic properties because they are believed to be non-toxic and cost-effective, and frequently well-accepted by patients because of their traditional use. In this review, we will discuss adipose tissue and adipogenesis, signaling pathways involved in the regulation of adipogenesis, role of energy sensor protein of the body AMPK, and recently reported plant products in the management of obesity. We will provide a common platform for understanding obesity, and a possible mechanism of action for anti-obesogenic plant products through activated AMPK, which will be helpful in the scientific development of traditional herbal medicine.