Last update:
24-Jul-2025

Obesity is a metabolic disorder which is associated with systemic oxidative stress (OS), mediated by the hyperproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and chronic state of low-grade inflammation. Obesity is characterized by secretion of pro-inflammatory adipokines and cytokines, and decrease in anti-inflammatory adipokines, whilst dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is a critical factor for the development of the obesity-related inflammation. Obesity is a serious public health disease due to its association to multiple co-morbidities. Because obesity-related OS is connected to an imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants, such as nitric oxide (NO), dietary components of plant foods endowed with biological antioxidant activities have been proposed to attenuate the OS and the inflammatory state in obesity. This review focuses on the possible molecular pathways of polyphenols in mitigating obesity and related co-morbidities, through a decrease in OS and related inflammation. In conclusion, nutritional bioactive compounds, such as catechins, quercetin, curcumin and resveratrol are promising strategies with low toxicity and adverse effects. Highly effective, better tolerated and safe new anti-obesity medications could be developed through an increased understanding of their physiological and molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways for the appetite regulation and the treatment of obesity.

Key words: Catechins, Obesity, Polyphenols, Quercetin, Resveratrol.