Anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity effects of morroniside in vitro and in vivo

Obesity is a multifaceted medical condition characterized by the pathological accumulation of excessive lipids in the body. We investigated the effects of morroniside, a bioactive compound derived from Cornus officinalis, on adipogenesis. We used a preadipocyte 3T3-L1 stable cell line and primary cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro and ovariectomized (OVX) and a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mouse model in vivo. Preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells and ADSCs incubated with morroniside during adipocyte differentiation and obese mice subjected to OVX and HFD received oral morroniside treatment for 12 weeks. Morroniside treatment significantly reduced adipocyte differentiation and fatty acid accumulation and downregulated adipogenesis-related gene expression, concomitant with a decrease in triglyceride content and an increase in glycerol release in cells. The results of the in vivo study showed that morroniside ameliorated obesity-related phenotypes by reducing body weight gain, hepatic steatosis, and adipose tissue in obese mice. These findings suggest that morroniside is a promising compound for preventing and treating obesity.