Paliurus ramosissimus Leaf Extract Inhibits Adipocyte Differentiation In Vitro and In Vivo High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Through PPARγ Suppression

Background/Objectives: Obesity, defined by the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue, is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Obesity treatments based on natural products are receiving increasing attention as viable alternatives to conventional treatments. Methods: To investigate the anti-obesity effects of Paliurus ramosissimus leaf extract (PRLE) in vitro and in vivo, we conducted studies using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. The in vivo studies used high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6 mice. PRLE effects were assessed through Oil Red O staining, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and morphological analysis of adipose tissue. Results: PRLE significantly reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells without cytotoxicity. PRLE treatment decreased mRNA expression of adipogenic genes (PPARγ, C/EBPα, FABP4, and leptin) and protein levels of adipogenesis-related markers. In HFD-fed mice, PRLE administration significantly reduced body weight gain (p < 0.001), decreased adipose tissue mass, and diminished the weight and size of white adipose tissue. Conclusions: PRLE exhibits anti-obesity effects both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for obesity prevention.