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Anti-Obesity Effects of Cissus Quadrangularis (Cissuslean®) in C57bl/6j Mice with High-Fat-Diet Induced Obesity and 3t3-L1 Adipocytes

Sudhanva M S1, Akhina Tom2, Firoz H M2, Zayeem Firoz Hussain3, Sadashiva CT2,, Shobith Rangappa1,

1Adichunchanagiri Institute for Molecular Medicine, Adichunchanagiri University, B G Nagara- 571 448, Mandya

2Department of Research and Development, Star Hi Herbs Pvt Ltd, Jigani, Bangalore-560105, Karnataka, India

3Department of Biotechnology, The Oxford College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2025, 13(1), 9-17. DOI: 10.12691/jfnr-13-1-2
Received December 07, 2024; Revised January 08, 2025; Accepted January 15, 2025

Abstract

Obesity is gradually becoming a widespread health problem, and treatment using natural compounds has seen an increasing trend. The aim of this study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of Cissus quadrangularis (Cissuslean®) on adipogenesis and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. The inhibitory effects of Cissuslean® on adipocyte differentiation were evaluated in vitro using 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells, focusing on AMPK signaling and lipid metabolism. Subsequently, an in vivo trial with male C57BL/6J mice fed HFD was conducted to examine the effects of Cissuslean® at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg on adipose tissue characteristics, body weight, fat mass, and obesity-related gene expression. Cissuslean® significantly inhibited preadipocyte differentiation by reducing intracellular lipid accumulation and suppressing the expression of key adipogenic regulators. It also enhanced AMPK phosphorylation during early adipocyte differentiation. In HFD-induced obese mice, Cissuslean® administration resulted in marked reductions in body weight gain, adipose tissue mass, and hepatic lipid accumulation. Furthermore, decreased serum ALT and AST levels indicated attenuation of HFD-induced hepatic injury. According to these results, Cissuslean® reduces body fat mass by inhibiting lipase activity and regulating genes and proteins involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis in epididymal adipose tissue. Our results suggest that Cissuslean® may be used as an anti-obesity agent.

Keywords:

Anti-obesity,Cissus quadrangularis,Cissuslean®, DEXA,high-fat diet
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