Exotic fruits as therapeutic complements for diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome

The prevalence and severity of obesity, type 2-diabetes, and the resultant metabolic syndrome are rapidly increasing. As successful preventive and therapeutic strategies for these life-threatening health ailments often come with adverse side effects, nutritional elements are widely used in many countries as preventive therapies to prevent or manage metabolic syndrome. Fruits are important dietary components, and contain various bioactive constituents. Many of these constituents have been proven to be useful to manage and treat various chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Although exotic fruits are understudied throughout the world due to their limited regional presence, many studies reveal their potent ability to ameliorate metabolic derangements and the resultant conditions i.e. diabetes and obesity. The aim of this article is to review the role of exotic fruits and their constituents in the regulation of metabolic functions, which can beneficially alter diabetes and obesity pathophysiology.

Research Highlights► Exotic fruits are rich source of various bioactive components which have health beneficial activities. ► Obesity, diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome are becoming epidemic in world. ► Various exotic fruits have beneficial effects in prevention/ treatment of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. ► The whole extract and/or purified bioactive compounds in exotic fruits have various targets to ameliorate these health ailments.