Targeting mTOR Signaling by Dietary Polyphenols in Obesity Prevention

Abstract

Dietary polyphenols can be utilized to treat obesity and chronic disorders linked to it. Dietary polyphenols can inhibit pre-adipocyte proliferation, adipocyte differentiation, and triglyceride accumulation; meanwhile, polyphenols can also stimulate lipolysis and fatty acid β-oxidation, but the molecular mechanisms of anti-obesity are still unclear. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a protein kinase that regulates cell growth, survival, metabolism, and immunity. mTOR signaling is also thought to play a key role in the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity. Recent studies showed that dietary polyphenols could target mTOR to reduce obesity. In this review, we systematically summarized the research progress of polyphenols in preventing obesity through the mTOR signaling pathway. Mechanistically, polyphenols can target multiple signaling pathways and gut microbiota to regulate the mTOR signaling pathway to exert anti-obesity effects. The main mechanisms include: modulating lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, inflammation, etc. Dietary polyphenols exerting an anti-obesity effect by targeting mTOR signaling will broaden our understanding of the anti-obesity mechanisms of polyphenols and provide valuable insights for researchers in this novel field.

Functional Perspective of Leeks: Active Components, Health Benefits and Action Mechanisms

“…Different polyphenols have different sugar units and acylated sugars at different positions on their main chains. At present, polyphenols are widely used in health food and medicine because of their beneficial impact on various biological functions and their lack of side effects on human body [12,13]. In recent years, with the study and utilization of the active substances of Allium plants, it has been found that most of them have antioxidant, anti-tumor, antibacterial and lipid-lowering effects, as well as contributing to cardiovascular disease prevention and other biological functions [2,[14][15][16].…”

Natural Compounds and Healthy Foods: Useful Tools against Onset and Progression of Chronic Diseases

“…In particular, the collected data focused on the molecular mechanisms by which dietary polyphenols target the mTOR signaling pathway. mTOR, a protein kinase that regulates cell growth, survival, metabolism, and immunity, seems to mediate the polyphenol’s anti-obesity effect by modulating lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, and inflammation [ 10 ].…”