Chapter 10 - Herbal slimming products and natural sexual enhancers

Abstract

Over the past decades, along with progressive economic development, significant changes in environment, society and people’s lifestyles have been observed. A marked shift in the dietary pattern worldwide together with the physical inactivity due to the urbanization and sedentary nature of many forms of work, resulted in an increasing prevalence of chronic metabolic diseases. Overweight and obesity are the major causes of co-morbidities, including type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, various cancers and other health problems. Psychosocial stress, anxiety and depression were associated not only with weight gain but also with sexual dysfunction, a serious medical and social symptom that occurs both in men and women. This chapter focuses on natural remedies, herbs and dietary supplements used in weight management (slimming products) and sexual enhancement (natural aphrodisiacs). Due to the higher interest of consumers in a holistic approach of traditional medicines, the popularity of natural products registered a significant increase and the global market of herbal food supplements has grown and diversified spectacularly. Besides the description of botanical species most frequently used as active ingredients in herbal formulations, the main results of human trials have been reviewed. The efficacy of natural products and their mechanism of action, as well as an adverse reaction, side effect or drug-herb interactions, were discussed. Special attention was paid to adulteration with pharmaceutically active substances of those products marketed as natural which is associated with potential health risks for consumers.