Abstract
Obesity is a global health concern. Recent research has suggested that the development of anti-obesity ingredients and functional foods should focus on natural products without side effects. We examined the effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of Brassica juncea extract (BJE) in combating obesity via experiments conducted in both in vitro and in vivo obesity models. In in vitro experiments conducted in a controlled environment, the application of BJE demonstrated the ability to suppress the accumulation of lipids induced by MDI in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Additionally, it downregulated adipogenic-related proteins peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), and lipid synthesis-related protein acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). It also upregulated the heat generation protein peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and fatty acid oxidation protein carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1). The oral administration of BJE decreased body weight, alleviated liver damage, and inhibited the accumulation of lipids in mice with diet-induced obesity resulting from a high-fat diet. The inhibition of lipid accumulation by BJE in vivo was associated with a decreased expression of adipogenic and lipid synthesis proteins and an increased expression of heat generation and fatty acid oxidation proteins. BJE administration improved obesity by decreasing adipogenesis and activating heat generation and fatty acid oxidation in 3T3-L1 cells and in HFD-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. These results suggest that BJE shows potential as a natural method for preventing metabolic diseases associated with obesity.