Role of purinergic signalling in obesity-associated end-organ damage: focus on the effects of natural plant extracts.

Obesity has become one of the major public health problems in both the developing and developed countries. Recent studies have suggested that the purinergic signalling is involved in obesity-associated end-organ damage through purine P1 and P2 receptors. In the search for new components for the treatments of obesity, we and other researchers have found much evidence that natural plant extracts may be promising novel therapeutic approaches by modulating purinergic signalling.