Anti-obesity and hypolipidemic activity of siddha drugs: A review

Abstract

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally with more than one million adults overweight and at least 300 million of them are clinically obese. It poses a major risk for diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart diseases, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, orthopedic disorders and certain forms of cancer. Siddha medicine is one of the oldest Indian systems of medicine which is believed to be originated more than 10,000 years ago. It takes human and nature as a part of closed system. In siddha, obesity has been dealt by various siddhas regarding its causes, signs and symptoms. Siddha being a medical science constitutes both preventive aspects as well as treatment aspects. This article reviews about the siddha medicinal herbs possessing hypolipidemic and anti-obesity property.