Exploring the potential of lotus leaf and its bioactive compounds for anti-obesity interventions

The complex syndrome of obesity is a complex syndrome associated with various metabolic disorders, poses significant threats to human health. Many weight loss medications have the potential to rapidly treat obesity, however their toxicity and adverse effects may compromise patients' physiological and psychological well-being. In China, the concept of drug and food homology has been utilized for thousands of years, with lotus leaves serving as a representative example. The lotus leaves have been traditionally used for heat-clearing and lipid-lowering purposes, as well as for cooling the blood and promoting hemostasis, since ancient times. This review represents the first attempt to qualitatively investigate the anti-obesity properties of lotus leaves by integrating gene-disease association databases and drug-target databases for analysis. Additionally, it summarizes the identified monomers in lotus leaves that have been reported to possess functions associated with anti-obesity. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive review of the research progress on anti-obesity drugs derived from lotus leaves, and to facilitate further research and development in the field of anti-obesity medication targeting adiposity.