Natural Lipase Inhibitors in Recent Years: A Review

Obesity is a condition caused by abnormal fat accumulation. The prevalence of obesity and related diseases is increasing globally, and efforts to find solutions are ongoing. In addition to diet, exercise, and surgery, drug therapy is recommended for individuals seeking a solution. Current anti‐obesity drugs target central and peripheral pathways. However, drugs targeting the central nervous system have serious side effects. Therefore, one of the approaches in the treatment of obesity is to inhibit pancreatic lipase (PL), which acts on peripheral pathways. Currently, the only clinically approved PL inhibitor is Orlistat, but this semi‐synthetic drug has also been associated with unwanted side effects. Recently, there has been extensive research on natural sources and natural products derived from these sources as potential lipase inhibitors with fewer side effects. This article reviews recent in vitro studies on inhibiting the PL enzyme by extracts from plants, fungi, and algae, as well as natural products derived from these extracts. In addition, the review presents recent molecular docking and in vivo studies demonstrating potential natural PL inhibitors.