Obesity-associated inflammatory macrophage polarization is inhibited by capsaicin and phytolignans

The utility of food-based products to prevent or alleviate chronic conditions such as obesity and its associated comorbidities is an attractive approach. Capsaicin, schisandrin A, enterodiol, and enterolactone, phytochemicals present in traditional medicinal food, decreased proinflammatory cytokine production from macrophages that, in turn, reduced obesity-associated adipocyte dysfunction. These results implicate the contribution of plant-derived dietary components to the modulation of macrophages and adipocytes in obesity.