Digestive Enzyme Inhibitors for Weight Management: Resin Glycosides/Lipase Inhibitors and Flavone Oligomers/Alpha-amylase Inhibitors (2025)

In the context of the escalating global obesity crisis, this chapter delves into innovative strategies for combating excessive weight gain, focusing on the pivotal role of pancreatic lipase inhibition. The prevalence of obesity has reached alarming levels, causing severe health issues and over 2.6 million annual deaths. Existing anti-obesity drugs, such as orlistat, can cause undesirable side effects, thereby requiring the exploration of alternative lipase inhibitors with low to no side effects. This study comprehensively examines microbial, fungal, marine, and plant-derived inhibitors, spotlighting resin glycosides derived from morning glory vegetables as a promising source. Structural elucidation of various resin glycosides and their amphipathic nature and inhibitory potential against pancreatic lipase are explored. This study further extends to investigate flavone oligomers as potential starch hydrolase inhibitors for diabetic control, presenting the structural diversity and inhibitory activities of an array of biflavonoids. A comprehensive understanding of these natural compounds provides a foundation for developing alternative and effective therapies for obesity and diabetes, steering toward a healthier global population.