Hibiscus syriacus Bud ‘Pyeonghwa’ Water Extract Inhibits Adipocyte Differentiation and Mitigates High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obesity In Vivo

TL;DR

A water extract from Hibiscus syriacus buds inhibits fat cell development and reduces obesity in mice, offering a potential natural treatment.

Contribution

The anti-obesity effects of Hibiscus syriacus 'Pyeonghwa' water extract are newly identified and validated in both cell and mouse models.

Findings

HPWE significantly reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cells without cytotoxicity.

HPWE downregulated key adipogenic proteins like PPARγ and C/EBPα.

HPWE mitigated high-fat-diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice.

Abstract

Obesity, characterized by the accumulation of excess adipocytes, is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Medicinal plants, including Hibiscus sabdariffa, have been traditionally employed to prevent or treat conditions such as obesity and inflammation due to their safety profile and minimal side effects during long-term use. However, the anti-obesity potential of Hibiscus syriacus, a taxonomically distinct species within the same genus, remains unexplored. In this study, we screened 181 varieties of H. syriacus buds for anti-obesity effects and identified the water extract of the ‘Pyeonghwa’ bud (HPWE) as a potent inhibitor of adipogenesis. Using 3T3-L1 murine pre-adipocyte cells, we demonstrated that HPWE significantly reduced lipid accumulation without inducing cytotoxicity. Mechanistically, HPWE downregulated the expression of key adipogenic signaling proteins and transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), which serve as molecular markers of adipogenesis. Additionally, in vivo experiments employing a high-fat-diet-induced obesity mouse model using C57BL/6 species confirmed the anti-obesity effects of HPWE. Collectively, these findings suggest that HPWE represents a promising candidate for the prevention of obesity.

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