The Beneficial Effects of Essential Oils in Anti-Obesity Treatment

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 22; no. 21; p. 11832
• Main Authors: De Blasio, Anna, D'Anneo, Antonella, Lauricella, Marianna, Emanuele, Sonia, Giuliano, Michela, Pratelli, Giovanni, Calvaruso, Giuseppe, Carlisi, Daniela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 31.10.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Adipocytes; Alcohols; Aldehydes; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics; Body fat; Body mass; Cancer; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cold; Cytokines; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - etiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - prevention & control; Essential oils; Esters; Fatty acids; Humans; Hyperplasia; Inflammation; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Ketones; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Natural & organic foods; Neoplasms - etiology; Neoplasms - prevention & control; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - drug therapy; Oils & fats; Oils, Volatile - therapeutic use; Overweight; Phobias; Psychological factors; Review; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Thermogenesis; metabolic syndrome; essential oils; obesity
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111832

Obesity is a complex disease caused by an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity is a medical problem and represents an important risk factor for the development of serious diseases such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some types of cancer. Not to be overlooked are the psychological issues that, in obese subjects, turn into very serious pathologies, such as depression, phobias, anxiety, and lack of self-esteem. In addition to modifying one's lifestyle, the reduction of body mass can be promoted by different natural compounds such as essential oils (EOs). EOs are mixtures of aromatic substances produced by many plants, particularly in medicinal and aromatic ones. They are odorous and volatile and contain a mixture of terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and esters. Thanks to the characteristics of the various chemical components present in them, EOs are used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical fields. Indeed, it has been shown that EOs possess great antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor powers. Emerging results also demonstrate the anti-obesity effects of EOs. We have examined the main data obtained in experimental studies and, in this review, we summarize the effect of EOs in obesity and obesity-related metabolic diseases.