https://biointerfaceresearch.com/ 1 of 16 Review Volume 13, Issue 2, 2023, 136 https://doi.org/10.33263/BRIAC132.136 Modern Perspectives on Adiponectin: Targeting Obesity, Diabetes, and Cancer Together Using Herbal Products Mohd Yusuf 1,* , Soniya Rani 2 , Udeep Chawla 3 , Piyush Baindara 4 , Samera Ali Siddique 5 , Khushboo Nirala 2 , Mohammad Asif 5 1 Department of Natural & Applied Sciences, School of Science and Technology, The Glocal University, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh 247121 India; yusuf1020@gmail.com (M.Y.), mohd.yusuf@theglocaluniversity.in (M.Y.); 2 School of Life & Allied Health Sciences, The Glocal University, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh 247121 India; soniyasingh7895@gmail.com (S.R.), khusburockes@gmail.com (K.N.); 3 Innovation and Incubation Centre for Entrepreneurship (IICE), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, India; udchawla@iiserb.ac.in (U.C.); 4 Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA; piyush.baindara@gmail.com (P.B.); 5 Glocal School of Pharmacy, The Glocal University, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh 247121 India; mohammad.asif@theglocaluniversity.in (M.A.), sameera.ali@theglocaluniversity.in (S.A.S.); *Correspondence: yusuf1020@gmail.com (M.Y.); mohd.yusuf@theglocaluniversity.in (M.Y.); Scopus Author ID 57214875106 Received: 25.12.2021; Accepted: 27.01.2022; Published: 25.03.2022 Abstract: Obesity, Diabetes, and Cancer are major health concerns worldwide. Studies are ongoing to find a molecular drug target that simultaneously regulates these diseases. One such protein is adiponectin which modulates numerous physiological processes and regulates pathways associated with these diseases. Here we have reviewed the potential of adiponectin as a drug target and discussed possible mechanisms by which herbal compounds can modulate its function. Adiponectin exerts its function by binding to its transmembrane receptors (adipoR1 and adipoR2), which stimulate signaling cascades involved in regulating these diseases. Adiponectin activity can be enhanced by the transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), or several natural compounds(like curcumin). The mechanism by which these phytocompounds influence adiponectin activity at the molecular level is unclear. Here we have summarized various natural compounds that can modulate adiponectin activity and in silico, examined the mechanism by which curcumin regulates adiponectin activity. Our molecular docking studies results indicate that curcumin can act as a ligand for PPARγ and activate adiponectin. Understanding the adiponectin activation mechanism will help develop new herbal drugs to cure obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Keywords: adiponectin; curcumin; PPARγ; molecular docking; natural compounds; obesity; diabetes; cancer. © 2022 by the authors. This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 1. Introduction Adiponectin is the most abundant adipokine secreted by the white adipose tissues through adipocytes into the bloodstream in the form of oligomeric derivatives such as trimeric:67 kDa, hexameric:140 kDa, and high molecular weight polymeric:300 kDa with distinct features of these oligomeric form[1]. It ameliorates insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammation oxidative stress, and regulates metabolic diseases [2-4]. The protein is a biomarker for several conditions like obesity, diabetes, aging, and cardiovascular diseases [5].