Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in an Obese State and the Protective Effects of Gallic Acid

1Global estimates show that more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight, while over 600 million of these individuals are classified as obese. The rising trend in the incidence of overweight and obesity is not only limited to developed countries as factors such as urbanization and unhealthy lifestyle, which contribute to its significant rise are also prominent in developing nations. In fact, sub-Saharan women are far more likely to be obese than men, which further affects pregnancy and maternal health. This can translate to complications and adverse effects on infant health, as previously hypothesized. Visceral obesity is associated with the development of chronic metabolic diseases including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and cardiovascular disease. The mechanism linking obesity to these comorbidities has not been fully elucidated. However, a growing body of knowledge suggests that a possible convergence of an inflammatory state, which results in chronic inflammation and oxidative stress that is localized within an adipose tissue (Figure 1). Adipose tissue inflammation plays a crucial role in promulgating obesity-related metabolic complications including the development of insulin resistance. An imbalance between energy intake and expenditure results in adipose tissue expansion due to excessive lipogenesis in adipose tissues.

2Adipose tissue is regarded as an endocrine organ that plays a pivotal role in the development of obesity. As excessive fat accumulation in the adipose tissue is associated with weight gain. Over the years, different kinds of adipocytes have been characterized and these include beige, white, and brown which can occur in diverse proportions within individual depots, and their presence has been associated with mixed health outcomes. For example, while excessive storage of white adipose tissue is linked to detrimental effects through its aberrant secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, brown adipose tissue is unique for containing abundant mitochondria that are essential for improving cellular respiration and increasing adaptive thermogenesis. Adipocytes secrete various endocrine factors such as adiponectin, estrogen, leptin, and an array of cytokines. The type of cytokines released, depend on the systemic or intracellular levels that may modulate various cell signals that can either prevent or exacerbate metabolic complications. Some of the prominent mechanisms that are modulated by various endocrine factors in an obese state include insulin signaling, adipogenesis, pre-adipocyte proliferation and differentiation, and the regulation of mitochondrial energy dissipation through the modulation of lipid metabolism. For this reason, systemic or intracellular control of these factors has been an ideal therapeutic target aimed at preventing obesity or ameliorating its associated complications.

3The use of natural products as therapeutic agents in preventing metabolic disease has become popular. Despite the fact that medicinal plants have been used for centuries to combat various ailments, it is only in the past few decades that we have seen a rapid rise in studies reporting on the metabolic disease preventative capacity of several plant bioactive compounds or naturally derived products, as reviewed elsewhere. For example, the health benefits of plant phenolics are well established, which may be attributed to their known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, signal transducing and other biological capabilities. Such plant phenolics include gallic acid, a trihydroxybenzoic acid found in a variety of foods and herbs that are increasingly studied for its biological activities. Certainly, there has been an increase in the experimental data evaluating the ameliorative effects of gallic acid on metabolic diseases, including obesity. Furthermore, several reviews focusing on the therapeutic potential of gallic acid have also been published. Briefly, in 2013, Locatelli et al. focused on alkyl esters of gallic acid as anticancer agents. In 2015, Badhani et al. gave an overview of the therapeutic and industrial applications of gallic acid, mostly focusing on its antioxidant properties. In the same year, Choubey et al. summarized evidence of patents reporting on anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antiangiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of gallic acid and its ester derivatives. In 2016, Fernandes and Salgado reviewed analytical methods for the determination and quantification of gallic acid, including emphasizing the advantages and limitations of each technique, while Nayeem et al. gave a general overview on the therapeutic potential of gallic acid. In 2017, Kosuru et al. discussed literature summarizing the effects of gallic acid and gallates in human health and disease, with specific emphasizes on mitochondria as the target site.

4Although the aforementioned reviews have provided an important platform that improves our understanding on the therapeutic potential of gallic acid and its derivatives, none have appraised literature on the anti-obesity properties of this phenolic acid. The current review systematically extracted the available primary findings and critically assessed these studies to better inform on the anti-obesity properties of gallic acid by modifying an already published protocol. For data extraction, a search on the association between gallic acid and obesity was conducted using major search engines and databases such as PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library Databases and Google Scholar. The search was done from inception until end of June 2018, grey literature including abstract proceedings and pre-prints were also included. There were no language restrictions applied, while review articles were assessed for primary findings. Medical subject heading (MeSH) terms such as gallic acid and its derivatives, metabolic syndrome, obesity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, including corresponding synonyms and associated terms for each item were used. Plants and extracts not reported to contain gallic acid, or that through background check had not been characterized to contain gallic acid or its derivatives, were excluded from this study. Furthermore, pathophysiological mechanisms involved in an obese state, especially the detrimental effects of enhanced pro-inflammatory response and oxidative stress are discussed to highlight the anti-obesity potential of gallic acid.

5Generally, it is well accepted that adipose tissue expansion in an obese state is accompanied by elevated inflammation and infiltration of inflammatory macrophages into adipose tissue. As displayed in Figure 1, increased abdominal adipose tissue accelerates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines which are associated with the degree of metabolic dysfunction. Adipose tissue is highly vascularized and angiogenic. This ensures adequate neovascularisation that is required for oxygen and nutrient supply of the expanding tissue. An imbalance between expansion and vascularization results in hypoxia, which promotes adipose tissue inflammation. Through the reduction of angiogenetic growth components such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during hypoxia, several processes including the formation of new blood cells in the adipose tissue are hindered. Adipose tissue expansion is usually accompanied by reduced vascularization, and this process may exacerbate metabolic disease pathogenesis. In fact, effective modulation of angiogenesis and vasculatures in adipose tissue has been proposed to be a viable mechanism to reverse obesity associated complications. However, uncontrolled adipose tissue expansion in an obese state is also associated with dysfunctional lipid metabolism including excessive lipolysis (Figure 2), which in turn leads to increased production and secretion of free fatty acids (FFAs) into the circulation. Inflammation localized in adipocytes, alters their adipokine profile, which may shift towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype that is accompanied by a high expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other mediators of inflammation. TNF-α is one of the earliest pro-inflammatory cytokines identified and its abnormally elevated levels are associated with obesity, insulin resistance and T2D. For example, knockout of TNF-α in diet-induced obese or leptin deficient (ob/ob) mice was linked with increased insulin sensitivity. Such effects have also been confirmed in human subjects and leptin resistant mice where elevated lipids or TNF-α have been associated with obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular complications, suggesting that adipose tissue inflammation and obesity are implicated in the development of T2D.

6Macrophage infiltration into the adipose tissue can also initiate chronic immune activation, leading to metabolic dysregulation and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Several factors, either derived from adipocytes or endothelial cells within adipose tissue, are thought to initiate the recruitment of macrophages into adipose tissue. This leads to the infiltration of some immune cells, such as neutrophils and T cells which subsequently induces hypoxia and adipocyte cell death. The order of immune cell recruitment remains unclear however in obesity, macrophages represent more than half of leukocyte population present in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Some studies have demonstrated a direct association between elevated macrophages found in visceral white adipose tissue and increased body mass index. In animal models of diet induced obesity, macrophages constitute around 50% of all adipose tissue cells, whereas in lean mice and humans, adipose tissue cells comprise of only 5% macrophages. In fact, inhibiting macrophage infiltration by blocking the monocyte chemoattractant 1 (MCP-1) ameliorates insulin resistance.

7Adipokines such as adiponectin have been demonstrated to inhibit macrophage function and leptin has been shown to promote inflammation by inducing T lymphocyte activation and proliferation. Products of lipolysis such as FFAs activate T lymphocytes which result in increased adipose mass and adipose tissue inflammation. Interestingly, T-helper cell 17 (TH17) cytokine levels have been connected with inflammation in obese people living with T2D. On the other side, it has been found that hyperglycemia induces the production of TNF-α through the down-regulation of monocyte cell surface CD33, a transmembrane receptor expressed by monocytes in peripheral blood. CD33 plays a crucial role in inhibiting cytokine production, and the reduction of CD33 expression in monocytes and lymphocytes is associated with increased production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1. TH17 lymphocytes secrete IL-17, which triggers the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) leading to the activation of B lymphocytes.

8In relation to insulin signaling (Figure 2), high levels of FFA and pro-inflammatory adipokines have been reported to induce insulin resistance in insulin sensitive cells such as adipocytes, hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes. This is mediated by inhibiting the insulin signaling pathway through the activation of intracellular stress kinases such as the inhibitor κB kinase (IKK) complex and c-JUN NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Subsequently, this can induce either inflammation or the serine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), leading to impaired downstream insulin signaling. Chronic levels of FFAs and pro-inflammatory cytokines can also activate the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which prompts nitric oxide (NO) production thereby causing a subsequent degradation of IRS-1. Furthermore, NO also blocks phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) activity by inducing s-nitrosylation of Akt. The excessive production of saturated FFAs increases the accumulation of toxic lipid metabolites such as ceramides, diacylglycerols, linoleic acid, or phosphatidic acid, and activate phosphokinase C (PKC). Phosphorylation of this kinase enzyme induces downstream activation of IKK and JNK, and this may lead to a subsequent interruption of the insulin signaling and generation of oxidative stress. This has been demonstrated in experimental models either suppressing or overexpressing JNK.

9In addition to driving an enhanced pro-inflammatory response, adipose tissue expansion during the progression of obesity can result in excess production of toxic radical species that can cause generation of oxidative stress. Although mechanisms involved in this process are complex, a strong correlation between reduction of the vasculature (vessel rarefaction) and generation of oxidative stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been reviewed. Besides their well-known detrimental actions, ROS are physiologically important for acting as second messengers in cell signaling and they also play a pivotal role in cellular homeostasis. The term ROS encompasses free radical species, including hydroxyl (·OH), superoxide (O2 • −), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Oxidative stress is a consequence of an imbalance between ROS production and scavenging, while chronic or sustained oxidative stress may be associated with cellular damage by oxidizing cellular constituents such as proteins, lipids and DNA. In adipose tissue, obesity can induce oxidative stress mainly via catalytic activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) enzyme or through dysfunctional mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. NOX remains the major route for ROS production in adipocytes. This plasma membrane-bound enzyme contributes to ROS production by transferring electrons from NADPH to oxygen, thus generating O2 • −, which is further converted to H2O2 by superoxide dismutase. NOX exists in seven different isoforms that are widely expressed in various tissue. Notably, NOX4 is predominantly expressed in murine and human adipocytes. In obese mice, the mRNA expression levels of NOX subunits were solely increased in adipose tissue and this was accompanied by increased ROS production in adipose tissue. While adipose-specific deletion of NOX4 attenuated adipose tissue inflammation and the early onset of insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice, suggesting that NOX4 derived oxidative stress and ROS production plays a role in the development of insulin resistance in adipose tissue. High levels of FFAs and glucose, which are abundant in obesity seem to contribute to NOX activation and ROS production (Figure 2). In cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, high levels of FFAs and glucose increased ROS production via NOX activation. In addition, treatment with NOX inhibitors or the silencing of NOX4 appeared to ameliorate this effect by decreasing ROS generation.

10The mitochondrial electron transport chain is among the main sites for ROS production in most mammalian cells that mainly takes place during oxidative phosphorylation. Several studies have shown that mitochondrial-derived ROS production is associated with the late stages of obesity as compared to NOX-derived ROS production, which is associated with the early stages of obesity. In a morbidly obese state, adipocytes utilize FFAs derived from triglyceride stores via excessive lipolysis for energy production, as a result of glucose deprivation due to insulin resistance. Excessive FFAs lead to an overflow of electrons in the electron transport chain during oxidative phosphorylation, resulting in their leakage and generation of O2 • − followed by the production of other ROS molecules. Excess production of mitochondrial derived ROS is associated with aggravation of inflammation and development of insulin resistance in adipocytes through the activation of the NF-κB. The phenomenon of enhanced pro-inflammatory response and oxidative stress in an obese state contributes significantly to the development of other metabolic complications such as T2D, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancers. Hence the increased focus on developing therapeutic agents that target inflammation and oxidative stress with the aim of preventing these diseases. In addition to well-established antidiabetic drugs such as metformin and insulin, literature on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of some other agents like salsalate, diacerein and chloroquine has been previously reviewed. Briefly, in addition to their beneficial effects in maintaining blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, most of these drugs prompt diverse effects ranging from reducing circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced pro-inflammatory responses in monocytes and macrophages, to inhibiting IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-κB levels in blood and different body tissues. However, limitations, such as scanty studies on human subjects, as well as controversial and inconclusive evidence, indicate the need to investigate alternative therapies. Interestingly, increasing research shows that gallic acid can ameliorate inflammation and oxidative stress, through improvement of mitochondrial biogenesis, among discussed mechanisms.

11Gallic acid (PubChem CID: 370), is a 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid with the molecular formula C7H6O5 (MW 170.12 g/mol) that is abundantly found in gallnuts, sumac, witch hazel, tea leaves, oak bark, and other plants. Gallic acid belongs to a distinct group of naturally occurring compounds known as phenolic acids, and is conventionally produced by hydrolysis of tannic acid. This class of compounds is unique for containing a phenol ring that possesses at least one carboxylic acid functionality (Figure 3). Phenolic acids are generally subclassified into benzoic acids comprising seven carbon atoms (C6-C1) and cinnamic acids with nine carbon atoms (C6-C3). However, gallic acid exist predominantly as hydroxybenzoic acids and occurs in different forms of esters and salts, including epigallocatechin gallate (PubChem CID: 65064), ethyl gallate (PubChem CID: 13250), gallocatechin gallate (PubChem CID: 199472), methyl gallate (PubChem CID: 7428), propyl gallate (PubChem CID: 4947), theaflavin-3-gallate (PubChem CID: 169167) and others (Figure 3).

12Despite their wide distribution, the health effects of phenolic acids, including gallic acid, can be affected by several factors including poor stability as well as restricted bioavailability and absorption. It is mostly accepted that bioavailability can vary among different phenolic acids, and the dietary abundance of a specific compound does not necessarily translate to best bioavailability profile. Although available experimental studies in animals and humans have demonstrated that gallic acid can be absorbed in the body, its effectiveness can be hindered due to rapid metabolism and elimination. Furthermore, like most natural products, additional studies specific to determining food species with properties that elevate gallic acid bioavailability, and knowing how much of certain foods one need to consume to have the beneficial dosage of this phenolic acid in plasma are required. Nonetheless, after oral administration, it is estimated that approximately 70% of gallic acid is absorbed and then excreted in the urine as 4-O-methylgallic acid. Most importantly, several methods have been tested in efforts to improve the bioavailability of gallic acid in the circulation and target tissues. These include repeated dosing and the use of structural analogs or derivative compounds of gallic acid, which significantly improves the plasma levels of this phenolic acid. Similarly, other researchers showed that using other systems such as phospholipid complexation or microencapsulation can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of gallic acid through increasing absorption and bioavailability in serum. Recently, it has been shown that gallic acid significantly enhanced the bioavailability of diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker widely used to treat hypertension, leading to the inhibition of both cytochrome P450 isozyme (CYP3A)-mediated metabolism and P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux in the intestine and/or liver. This result is of interest since the process of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of different agents can be affected by co-treatment with other drugs, as well as various physiological and pathological changes. A recent study showed that pharmacokinetic process of gallic acid is different between normal and rats subjected to myocardial infarction. Suggesting that additional studies are required to assess the pharmacokinetic profile of herbal preparations or dietary nutrition containing gallic acid in different pathological conditions, as well as its co-treatment with currently used agents. Nonetheless, experimental data reporting on the ameliorative effect of gallic acid against metabolic complications has increased over the years.

13Currently, various experimental models are being explored to investigate the anti-obesity properties of pharmacological compounds, including natural products and plant-derived extracts. Pre-clinical models of obesity are presently divided into different categories, the major ones being based on genetic mutations or manipulation, while others focus on intact animals exposed to obesogenic environments such as being maintained on high-fat diets. Indeed, it was evident that the majority of studies presented in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 4 investigated the therapeutic effect of gallic acid or extracts rich in this phenol through the use of fat pads from high fat diet (HFD) fed rats and mice. The only reported transgenic model of obesity used were ddY mice, a mouse model known to be susceptible to obese characteristics, including cholesterol, hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia in response to obesogenic diet. Besides the use of cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, other models that were widely used to test the anti-obesity properties of gallic acid were in vitro experiments that inhibit various enzymes involved in fat breakdown and metabolism. Lipase inhibitors are known to bind to lipase enzymes in the intestine, thus blocking hydrolysis of dietary triglycerides into monoglycerides and FFAs. Recently, in silico methods, such as molecular docking, have also become popular. Such systems have been used to assess the inhibitory effect of gallic acid against lipases.

14Although gallic acid was shown to be active against complications such as hemoptysis as early as the 1800s, studies reporting on its anti-obesity properties started emerging about three decades ago. A search with the terms “gallic acid and metabolic disease” resulted in approximately 246 articles; however, only 60 studies were specific to gallic acid and its ameliorative effects against obesity associated complications. Data reporting on the ameliorative effect of gallic acid or its derivative compounds, as well as tea, fruits and other plants containing this phenolic acid are summarized in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 4, while information on the effect of gallic acid in human studies is presented in Table 5. Information presented in each table includes author details, year of publication, experimental model and dose used, as well as the proposed mechanism of action, if any was investigated.

15Through the use of experimental models discussed above, gallic acid has demonstrated an increased potential to ameliorate a number obesity associated complications, as summarized in Table 1. Concise evidence shows that gallic acid presents with and enhanced effect to reduce body weights in obese rodents. This effect can either be directly via inhibiting formation of lipid droplets in the liver or adipose tissue, as well as directly by reducing serum levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein. In cultured adipocytes or HFD fed rats, such properties have been confirmed, with the modulation of glucose and lipid metabolism implicated as the major mechanism proposed to be involved in the therapeutic benefits of gallic acid. Indeed, the modulatory effect of lipids and glucose intermediates could be related to its effects in improving glucose uptake, increasing energy expenditure, and enhancing insulin sensitivity. Albeit regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling could explain its therapeutic potential in enhancing insulin sensitivity, activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) by gallic acid might influence substrate metabolism, as reported elsewhere. Nonetheless, several other natural compounds such as celastrol and resveratrol have been shown to control glucose and lipid metabolism and thereby ameliorate obesity associated complications, including inflammation and oxidative stress through mostly modulating mechanisms such PI3K/Akt and AMPK. In any case, although limited information is available on its effect on inflammation, studies summarized in this review support strong ameliorative effects of gallic acid against oxidative stress. From these studies, enhancing intracellular antioxidants such as glutathione and blocking lipid peroxidation products is linked with reduced oxidative stress.

16Furthermore, it appears that increasing adiponectin levels and regulating genes involved in adipogenesis and proliferation may be another mechanism by which gallic acid attenuates obesity associated complications. For instance, through upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ expression and activation of NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1)/peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α) pathway this phenolic acid can induce browning of the adipose tissue. It can influence adipogenesis by upregulating protein expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS), FAS ligand (FasL), as well as tumor protein 53 (p53) and activated caspase 3/9. Interestingly, similar to the mechanism attributed to statin drugs, gallic acid can interfere with cholesterol synthesis by blocking the activity of β-Hydroxy β-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase. However, although data on its comparison with a known antidiabetic agent, pioglitazone, there is very limited literature that compares the beneficial effects of gallic acid with widely used anti-obesity or antidiabetic drugs.

17Table 2 summarizes some of the well-investigated derivatives of gallic acid for their anti-obesity properties, including 6-deoxytetra-O-galloyl-α-d-glucopyranose, tetra-O-galloyl-α-d-xylopyranose, 6-chloro-6-deoxy-1,2,3,4-tetra-O-galloyl-α-d-glucopyranose, epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin-3-gallate, N-(4-(tert-Butyl)phenyl)-3,4,5-trihydroxybenzamide (KMU-3), and methyl gallate. Briefly, some evidence summarized in Table 2 demonstrates that the therapeutic effects of gallic acid were less effective when compared to a few pharmacological compounds, including some of its derivatives. For example, tannic acid displayed better effect in attenuating insulin-stimulated lipogenesis through activation of insulin-receptor-associated tyrosine kinase phosphorylation in Wistar rats. O-coumaric acid and rutin displayed a better effect on inhibiting glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, and reducing the expression of PPARγ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) and leptin in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Epigallocatechin gallate performed better in decreasing insulin stimulated glucose uptake, with the mechanistic involvement of AMPK pathway. Moreover, (z)-3-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyloxy) propane-1,2-diyl dioleate showed a more pronounced effect than gallic acid in reducing the body weight in Wistar rats. KMU-3 outperformed gallic acid in suppressing lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by downregulating the expressions of C/EBP-α, PPARγ, and FAS. Although did not show superior effect when compared to gallic acid, the other derivative compounds of this phenolic acid such as 6-deoxytetra-O-galloyl-α-d-glucopyranose, tetra-O-galloyl-α-d-xylopyranose, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, epigallocatechin 3-O-(3-O-methyl) gallate and methyl gallate have presented and enhanced effect at improving glucose uptake, inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity, and blocking adipogenesis and proliferation, respectively. The proposed mechanisms associated with the aforementioned beneficial effects include regulation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPR) and PPARγ expression, as well as stimulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling to mostly block adipogenesis and proliferation.

18Table 3 summarizes primary studies reporting on the beneficial effects of tea and fruits containing gallic acid or its derivative compounds against obesity associated complications. Besides tea (Camellia sinensis), fruits that have been shown to contain high levels of gallic acid or its derivative compounds include avocado, ellagitannin-enriched polyphenolic extract, Eugenia dysenterica DC., freeze-dried jaboticaba peel, grape powder, herbal mixture, Limonium spp. (Plumbaginaceae), Mangifera indica L., mango, mulberry water, Nelumbo nucifera leaf, Norton grape pomace, number ten supplement, Ocimum basilicum, pineapple, pomegranate peels, Psidium guajava L., Pedro Sato, Paluma and Século XXI, Pu-erh tea, Punica granatum, Ribes nigrum L, Rubus suavissimus, and Terminalia bellirica.

19From data presented in Table 3, tea appears to be the leading gallic acid-rich product that is explored for its anti-obesity properties. This may be due to the fact that tea is among the world’s most consumed beverage and is increasingly targeted for the treatment of lifestyle diseases. Tea exists in various forms, with green tea prepared in an unoxidized form, oolong partially oxidized, Pu-erh teas requiring boiling water for infusion, while black tea undergoing the complete oxidation process. Although present at varying amounts, all teas contain relatively high levels of catechins and gallic acid. Previous reports show that green tea can suppress adipogenesis and lipid synthesis by increasing energy expenditure via thermogenesis, fat oxidation and fecal lipid excretion. Consistently, evidence on this review showed that black and Pu-erh teas have great potential in ameliorating obesity associated complications by mainly reducing visceral fat deposition and lowering hepatic triglyceride levels.

20Lowering plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, in addition to reducing activities of FAS and malic enzyme, are proposed to be the mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of tea against obesity linked complications. Thus, suggesting that additional studies are required to explore molecular mechanisms involved in the beneficial effect of gallic acid-rich teas against obesity associated complications, especially targeting its role in adipogenesis, insulin signaling, inflammation, and oxidative stress processes.

21In addition to tea, evidence on the therapeutic potential of fruits rich in gallic acid or its derivatives in preventing obesity has also emerged. Fruits of interest include avocado, blackcurrant, grapes, guava, mango, mulberry, and pomegranate (Figure 4). Most of these fruits are commercially available, and their regular consumption has been linked with various health benefits. For instance, avocado (Persea americana) extract at 100 mg/kg body weight was found to significantly reduce body mass index, adiposity index, total fat pad mass, blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein in HFD fed rats. Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) supplemented in diet for eight weeks reduced body weight gain and improved glucose metabolism in HFD fed mice. Although limitations in decreasing oxidative stress in obese female mice have been observed, several beneficial effects for grapes (Vitis vinifera) extracts have been identified by other researchers in cultured adipocytes and obese rodents. The beneficial effects include the capacity of this grape extract to reduce plasma C-reactive protein levels, improve glucose uptake and insulin signaling, which may be related to enhanced expression of perilipin-1, fatty acid binding protein 4, GLUT4, as well as PI3K. Another gallic acid-rich fruit, guava (Psidium guajava L.), using in vitro-based assays, demonstrated inhibitory effects on lipase, α-glycosidase, α-amylase and trypsin enzyme activities in the presence of simulated gastric fluid. Whereas in cultured adipocytes, mango (Mangifera indica) extract showed inhibitory effect against hydrogen peroxide induced production of ROS. On the other hand, mulberry (Morus alba L.) extracts supplemented in diet were shown to reduce body weight of obese mice by suppressing visceral fat, accompanied with hypolipidemic effects through the reduction in serum triacylglycerol, cholesterol, and the low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio. Similarly, using a network-based pharmacological analysis, mulberry extracts have been proposed to regulate TNF-α, PPARγ, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3B), insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and other proteins involved in diabetes and obesity associated complications. Last but not least, pomegranate (Punica granatum) extracts, using in vitro screening tools have demonstrated an enhanced effect to suppress α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and lipase activities. Overall results presented in this review support the beneficial effects of fruits-rich in gallic acid on ameliorating obesity associated complications. However, most of these studies fall short in confirming in vitro findings on other in vivo models, while also demonstrating limitation in unravelling molecular mechanisms by which these fruits can protect against obesity linked anomalies.

22Besides wine-making products, other plant extracts and products rich in gallic acid or its derivatives include cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica), Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), jaboticaba (Plinia cauliflora), Limonium, Nelumbo nucifera, Ocimum basilicum and Terminalia bellirica (Table 4). Through the use of various experimental models these plant extracts display a broad spectrum of ameliorative effects against obesity associated complications. For example, the use of herbal mixture extract rich in gallic acid at 790 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks improved lipid profile, defective antioxidant stability, and insulin resistance in HFD fed rats. In a similar model of obesity, the use of cagaita extracts at 7 and 14 mg gallic acid equivalent for 8 weeks protected against dyslipidemia, fasting hyperglycemia, and further attenuated both hepatic gluconeogenesis and inflammation as observed by the expression of TNF-α and transcriptional factor NF-κB. Based on in vitro assays, the bark extracts of Ceylon Cinnamon showed increased potential to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, lipase and cholesterol esterase. On the other hand, supplementation with Jaboticaba peel extract for 6 weeks reduced circulating saturated FFAs, blocked lipid peroxidation in the liver and increased its antioxidant defenses in obese rats. Administration of Nelumbo nucifera leaf extract mixed at 0.5% in diet for 6 weeks was able to reduce body weight, body lipid accumulation, and the enzymatic activity of FAS, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and glutamic pyruvic transaminase in obese mice. Limonium spp. (Plumbaginaceae), a epigallocatechin-rich extract inhibited the activities of pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase, α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Moreover, Ocimum basilicum and Terminalia bellirica extracts were shown to present with high potential to inhibit the activity of α-glucosidase, α-amylase, lipase, HMG-CoA reductase and angiotensin 1-converting enzyme. Inhibition for some of these enzymes, especially lipase may translate to restricted to food absorption resulting in loss of body weight; however in vivo confirmation of such findings is necessary. Anyway, although there is still some difficulty in achieving reduction in body weights in obese rodent models with gallic acid treatment, the overall findings demonstrate that the presence of gallic acid in some plants may enhance their therapeutic effects in preventing obesity associated complications.

23Despite the recorded increase in natural product and natural product derived drugs in clinical trials, challenges of conducting clinical research of natural products still persists. Toxicity, adverse effects if used on long-term or at the incorrect dosages, and drug-to drug interactions are some of the acknowledged draw backs identified in clinical evaluation of herbal medicine for the treatment of obesity. Two of the six clinical studies on the anti-obesity properties of gallic acid included in the current review showed that this phenolic acid or its derivatives did not cause weight loss or affect any of the markers assessed except for reducing food intake in obese subjects assessed. However, it is of note that although strong evidence linking consumption of natural supplements with effective management of obesity is insufficient, most natural compounds have been specifically credited for attenuating metabolic complications including systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in overweight and obese individuals. The other four included clinical studies supported the beneficial effect of gallic acid and its derivatives in ameliorating some obesity associated complications. These studies showed that in addition to improving the quality of life score of obese patients undergoing biliopancreatic diversion, gallic acid-rich extracts can reduce the mean waist circumference, body mass index, and visceral fat values in pre-obese Japanese human subjects, and suppress inflammation and oxidative stress associated markers. From clinical results summarized in this review (Table 5), it is clear that future work exploring different doses and larger cohorts is required to fully elucidate the therapeutic potential of gallic acid to combat obesity and associated complications in human subjects. Furthermore, a comparison of its effects with other available treatments, such as lipid lowering drugs and other obesity therapies, is still necessary.

24Obesity and the metabolic syndrome are of significant scientific and clinical interest, due to their contribution in the rapid rise of noncommunicable diseases. Although mechanisms describing the pathophysiology of these complications remain complex, inflammation and oxidative stress are understood to be some of the major causal factors implicated in worsening of obesity associated perturbations. Thus, in addition to reducing raised blood glucose or lipid levels, amelioration of inflammation and oxidative stress may be another basic measure taken to improve cellular function in an obese state. At present, only a few therapies are available to improve the lives of obese patients at high risk of developing the metabolic syndrome. To date, some natural products, including gallic acid have been shown to ameliorate complications associated with the metabolic syndrome. This may be through mechanisms involving the reduction of excessive body fat, or ameliorating inflammation and oxidative stress at a cellular level. Certainly, the pre-clinical data summarized in this review support the beneficial effects of gallic acid or its derivatives in preventing obesity-associated complications. Although demonstrated to partially interfere with allergic disorders by acting on G protein-coupled receptor-35, it is still not clear which receptors are targeted by gallic acid or how it could modulate the discussed metabolic benefits. Other interesting questions raised in this review include identification of gallic acid metabolites that may be involved in cellular functions, and investigating its broad effect in increasing angiogenesis or endothelial cell function and thereby reduce oxidative stress. The major shortfalls highlighted in this review include limited to no studies assessing the ameliorative effects of gallic acid against obesity-associated complications in human subjects to confirm its therapeutic potential. This can be further complemented with experiments exploring its concurrent use with current lipid-lowering therapies to investigate whether it would of therapeutic benefit as an adjunct therapy.