Edible Plant-Derived Xanthones as Functional Food Components for Metabolic Syndrome Mitigation: Bioactivities and Mechanisms

Metabolic syndrome has emerged as a significant global public health concern worldwide, characterized by a cluster of interrelated risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and abdominal obesity. In recent years, functional foods containing bioactive phytochemicals have attracted considerable scientific interest as potential therapeutic approaches for metabolic syndrome management. Xanthones, a class of naturally occurring tricyclic phenolic compounds abundant in various fruits and medicinal plants, demonstrate diverse biological activities relevant to metabolic health. This comprehensive review examines the dietary sources of xanthones, their bioactivity, and their promising role as functional food components for mitigating metabolic syndrome. The underlying mechanisms of action include modulation of lipid metabolism, improvement of insulin signaling pathways, potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and modulation of glucose metabolism. Additionally, we discuss the stability and processing considerations of xanthones in food products. These findings highlight the development of xanthone-enriched functional foods and nutraceuticals as dietary interventions for metabolic syndrome prevention and management. This review comprehensively covers all relevant studies published up to the present without time restrictions.