Brassica rapa L. prevents Western diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice through its binding capacity of cholesterol and fat.

Obesity, a chronic disorder caused by excessive energy intake leading to fat accumulation in adipose tissue, increases the risk of severe diseases. Brassica rapa L. is known as a traditional vegetable in the Nagano area of Japan. C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups, with different diets as follows: a normal diet, a Western diet (WD), and a WD plus B. rapa L. powder (BP) in a 56-day experiment. Brassica rapa L. supplementation reduced the body weight gain and lipid accumulation of mice significantly. The BP group also had higher fecal bile acid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride excretion levels compared with those in the other groups. The antiobesity effects of B. rapa L. were due to its binding with cholesterol and fat, and possibly enhancing the bile acid excretion and modulating gut microbiota, suggesting that B. rapa L. could be a functional vegetable with potential uses in targeting obesity.