Spiraea prunifolia leaves extract inhibits adipogenesis and lipogenesis by promoting β-oxidation in high fat diet-induced obese mice.

Spiraea prunifolia has been used in Korean traditional medicine to treat malaria, fever, and emetic conditions. Previous investigation reported that several parts of Spiraea prunifolia show various functional effects. However, the effect of Spiraea prunifolia leaves extract (SPE) on anti-obesity remains unclear. Therefore, we used a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model in this study to investigate the effects of SPE on adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and β-oxidation. Oral administration of SPE in HFD-induced obese mice considerably reduced body weight, serum levels such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, adipose tissue weight, and adipocyte cell size. Moreover, SPE significantly decreased protein expression levels of adipogenesis and lipogenesis related genes such as CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, adipocyte protein 2, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase in epididymal adipose tissues. SPE treatment induced the protein expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1, which might have promoted phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase-medicated β-oxidation. The present study reveals an anti-adipogenic, anti-lipogenic, β-oxidation effects of SPE in vivo and represents AMP-activated protein kinase signaling as targets for SPE.