Pancreatic Lipase Inhibition by Edible Plants Used in Three Middle East Countries: A Mini-Review

Abstract

Obesity is considered a serious prevalent disease that is accelerating at an alarming rate. It has drawn worldwide attention and many approaches have been suggested to reduce dietary lipid hydrolysis and absorption. One of the substantial approaches is to inhibit pancreatic lipase (PL) that is the major responsible enzyme for fat digestion in the gastrointestinal lumen. Unfortunately, till now, the only pharmaceutical drug approved for obesity management is “Orlistat”, which has many unpleasant side effects. During the last decade, a massive effort has been dedicated to discovering safe lipase inhibitors from natural sources to avoid undesired drawbacks. The Middle East region is well known for its highly diverse flora with vast potential medicinal value. In this review, we try to provide an overview of the edible plants with potent anti-lipase activities and comprise a number of common ingredients in the Middle Eastern cuisine.