Antiobesity Potential of Selected Latin American Edible Plants: A Review

The antiobesity potential of some plants refers to their capacity to suppress appetite, inhibit digestive enzymes and interfere in fat absorption to control or reduce weight and preferentially without side effects. Healthy dietary habits, in addition to exercise, improve or delay the complications associated with obesity (e.g., prevention and control of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease, and obstructive sleep apnea), and consequently quality of life. An effective strategy to maintain a healthy body weight is including food plants in the daily diet. Many food crops comprise bioactive compounds with a wide range of health benefits, such as unsaturated fatty acids, soluble and insoluble fiber, pigments (chlorophyll, betalains, carotenes, anthocyanins), phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and stilbenes, among others. Due to the side effects of synthetic antioxidants and antiobesity drugs, scientists are now focusing on natural products which produce better effects and less side effects. Nowadays, research is aiming on the outstanding characteristics of crops that have been used from ancient times in different regions worldwide, including Latin America. In this review, we revised the state of knowledge of the nutraceutical and antiobesity properties of different native cultivars of Latin America, including, quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), chia (Salvia hispanica), amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus), nopal (Opuntia spp.), avocado (Persea americana), pineapple (Ananas comosus) and cacao (Theobroma cacao). We hope that the selected food sources from this region will have a better use in the control of overweight and obesity.