Pharmacological benefits of against metabolic diseases: intestinal-level bioactivities and favorable modulation of gut microbiota.

Context: Obesity-associated chronic metabolic disease is a leading contributor to mortality globally. Plants belonging to the genera are routinely used for the treatment of diverse metabolic diseases under different ethnomedicinal practices around the globe.

Objective: The current review centres around the pharmacological evidence of intestinal-level mechanisms for metabolic health benefits by spp.

Results: spp. increase the proportions of gut commensals ( and ) and reduces the population of opportunistic pathobionts ( and ). gum that is rich in fibre, can also be a source of prebiotics to improve gut health. The intestinal-level anti-inflammatory activities of are likely to contribute to improvements in gut barrier function that would prevent gut-to-systemic endotoxin translocation and limit "low-grade" inflammation associated with metabolic diseases.

Conclusion: This comprehensive review for the first time has emphasised the intestinal-level benefits of spp. which could be instrumental in limiting the burden of metabolic disease.