2.8.1. Obesity

Obesity is a chronic disorder of multiple factors characterized by an extensive accumulation of fat or general hypertrophy of adipose tissue in the body [134]. Hence, obesity can be so described when the natural energy reserve of humans or other mammals stored in the form of body fat increases to such an extent that it is associated with a series of complications, health problems, diseases, and even an increase in the mortality rate [135].

Studies have been carried out showing that the consumption of pomegranate leaf extracts, in particular punicalagin (9), diminishes the sense of hunger and body weight [136], and that the extract inhibits the incidence of obesity and hyperlipidemia. These activities seem to be due partially to inhibition of pancreatic lipase and partly to a decreased calorie intake [137].

Khabeer et al. went through the anti-obesity potential of SHAMstat3pg, a fatty acid composite extracted from pomegranate seed oil, made up of punicic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. Their findings established that the treatment of 10 μg/mL of SHAMstat3pg (24 h) inhibited in a dose-dependent manner adipogenesis of human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (HADMSC), improved inflammation, attenuated ATP production, and glucose uptake. In addition, the extract favorably modulated the mRNA expression of the studied obesity-associated gene transcripts [138].

Several positive e ffects on fat reduction have been underlined, maybe for the presence of anthocyanins, tannins, and numerous antioxidant compounds. However, given that obesity is classified as one of the main risk factors for the development many disorders (metabolic and not), human studies in this field are still limited and need more attention to understand the preventive role of pomegranate in order to make it a potent nutraceutical ally.
