# Terminalia bellirica Extract Attenuates Fat Accumulation Through Modulation of Obesity-Related Dysmetabolism in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

## TL;DR

This study shows that Terminalia bellirica extract reduces fat accumulation in cells and mice by altering metabolic pathways linked to obesity.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence that Terminalia bellirica extract has anti-obesity effects in both cell and animal models.

## Key findings

- TBE inhibited lipid accumulation and downregulated genes involved in fat formation and lipid production in 3T3-L1 cells.
- TBE reduced body weight, fat mass, and fat cell size in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.
- TBE upregulated genes related to fat breakdown and energy metabolism in both in vitro and in vivo models.

## Abstract

Terminalia bellirica extract (TBE) has long been utilized in Ayurvedic medicine across Indian and surrounding regions for diverse therapeutic applications. Despite its traditional prominence, systematic investigations addressing the anti-obesity efficacy and underlying mechanisms remain limited. In this study, we evaluated the anti-obesity potential of TBE using both 3T3-L1 adipocyte and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mice model. In vitro studies using 3T3-L1 adipocytes demonstrated that TBE significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and downregulated key genes involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis, while upregulating genes promoted lipolysis and energy metabolism. To validate these cellular effects in a physiological context, mice were randomly assigned to six groups: normal control (NC), HFD-induced obese (C), HFD with metformin (100 mg/kg b.w., PC), and HFD with TBE at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg b.w. Consistent with the in vitro findings, TBE supplementation significantly reduced body weight gain, adipose tissue mass, and adipocyte size in HFD-induced obese mice. Taken together, these results indicate that TBE exerts anti-obesity effects through modulation of adipose tissue metabolic pathways, highlighting its therapeutic potential for obesity management.