Callistemon citrinus leaf extract exerts anti-obesity effect by regulation of lipid metabolism in high-fat diet fed mice

Abstract

Obesity is an epidemic metabolic disease, and its associated metabolic disorders are among the major health challenges of our time. This study examined the anti-obesity effect of Callistemon citrinus (CC) by using its leaf extract in high-fat diet fed mice. Male eight-week-old C57BL/6J mice were divided into five groups, which were fed either a normal diet (CON), a high-fat diet (HFD), HFD plus orally administered Orlistat (50 mg/kg), 50 or 200 mg/kg of CC (CC 50 or CC 200) for 12 weeks. The HFD group showed increased body weight and fat mass of various tissues compared to the CON group. In contrast, CC 200 group showed significantly lower body weight than the HFD group. The weights of epididymal, mesenteric, perirenal, and retroperitoneal adipose tissues were significantly reduced in CC 200 compared to the HFD group. In addition, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were analysed, and the CC 200 group significantly reduced compared to the HFD group. We are investigating various lipid metabolism factors, including AMP-activated protein kinase and uncoupling protein-1, to clarify the molecular mechanism of anti-obesity effect of CC. Thus, CC leaf extract might be a good candidate for prevention or treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases.