Abstract

INDIGENOUS/LOCALLY AVAILABLE HERBAL DRUGS IN J&K WITH ANTI-OBESITY POTENTIAL: A REVIEW

Saba Sabreen, Mohammad Faizan Bhat and Mubashir Hussain Masoodi*

Abstract

Obesity is one of the most prevalent health problems recorded worldwide affecting all age groups contributing to a variety of disorders, notably affecting cardiovascular and endocrinological systems. According to WHO, in 2014 about 13% of World’s Adult population (11% Males & 15% Females) were obese. The highest proportion living in the USA followed by China & India. 5% of Indian population is obese; particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, 8.7% Males & 11.1% females are victims of the condition. Healthcare systems employ various managemental strategies based on medication, diet, and lifestyle to deal with the condition. Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Crocus sativus, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, etc. are some of the locally available/ indigenous drugs used in alternative medicine for decades for the condition above. The present work has been mooted given this consideration. A brief review is intended to provide the details of the arsenal of the medicinal plants locally available/ indigenous documented for anti-obesity effects; and assessment of standard protocols and parameters required for such study. The traditional use will be reviewed along with scientific proofs (if any). The objectives of the work are evidently evaluating comparatively documented indigenous/locally available drugs as anti-obesity and to identify standard parameters for such study to focus on open areas of research.

Keywords: Indigenous drugs, obesity, medicinal plants, bioactivity.