title: Novel nutraceutic therapies for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
abstract: Nutraceutic therapies such as berberine, bitter melon, Gymnema sylvestre, Irvingia gabonensis, resveratrol and ursolic acid have been shown to help control metabolic syndrome (MetS). The effect of berberine on glucose and lipid metabolism, hypertension, obesity and MetS has been evaluated in animal models and humans. Most clinical trials involving bitter melon have been conducted to evaluate its effect on glucose metabolism; nevertheless, some studies have reported favorable effects on lipids and blood pressure although there is little information about its effect on body weight. Gymnema sylvestre helps to decrease body weight and blood sugar levels; however, there is limited information on dyslipidemia and hypertension. Clinical trials of Irvingia gabonensis have shown important effects decreasing glucose and cholesterol concentrations as well decreasing body weight. Resveratrol acts through different mechanisms to decrease blood pressure, lipids, glucose and weight, showing its effects on the population with MetS. Finally, there is evidence of positive effects with ursolic acid in in vitro and in vivo studies on glucose and lipid metabolism and on body weight and visceral fat. Therefore, a review of the beneficial effects and limitations of the above-mentioned nutraceutic therapies is presented.
authors.affiliation: Esperanza Martínez-Abundis, Miriam Mendez-del Villar, Karina G Pérez-Rubio, Laura Y Zuñiga, Marisol Cortez-Navarrete, Alejandra Ramírez-Rodriguez, Manuel González-Ortiz, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez-Abundis
authors.affiliation: Esperanza Martínez-Abundis, Miriam Mendez-del Villar, Karina G Pérez-Rubio, Laura Y Zuñiga, Marisol Cortez-Navarrete, Alejandra Ramírez-Rodriguez, Manuel González-Ortiz, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Méndez-Del Villar
authors.affiliation: Esperanza Martínez-Abundis, Miriam Mendez-del Villar, Karina G Pérez-Rubio, Laura Y Zuñiga, Marisol Cortez-Navarrete, Alejandra Ramírez-Rodriguez, Manuel González-Ortiz, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: Karina G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Pérez-Rubio
authors.affiliation: Esperanza Martínez-Abundis, Miriam Mendez-del Villar, Karina G Pérez-Rubio, Laura Y Zuñiga, Marisol Cortez-Navarrete, Alejandra Ramírez-Rodriguez, Manuel González-Ortiz, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: Laura Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Zuñiga
authors.affiliation: Esperanza Martínez-Abundis, Miriam Mendez-del Villar, Karina G Pérez-Rubio, Laura Y Zuñiga, Marisol Cortez-Navarrete, Alejandra Ramírez-Rodriguez, Manuel González-Ortiz, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cortez-Navarrete
authors.affiliation: Esperanza Martínez-Abundis, Miriam Mendez-del Villar, Karina G Pérez-Rubio, Laura Y Zuñiga, Marisol Cortez-Navarrete, Alejandra Ramírez-Rodriguez, Manuel González-Ortiz, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Esperanza Martínez-Abundis, Miriam Mendez-del Villar, Karina G Pérez-Rubio, Laura Y Zuñiga, Marisol Cortez-Navarrete, Alejandra Ramírez-Rodriguez, Manuel González-Ortiz, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Ortiz
keywords: Berberine; Bitter melon; Gymnema silvestre; Irvingia gabonensis; Metabolic syndrome; Nutraceutics; Resveratrol; Ursolic acid