Mulberry (<i>Morus alba</i>) Twig and Leaf Extracts Ameliorate Obesity-Related Metabolic Disorders via Gut Microbiota Modulation in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

Mulberry (<i>Morus alba</i>) twigs and leaves, rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and alkaloids with multi-target regulatory properties on glucose/lipid metabolism, were evaluated for their anti-obesity effects using methanol-extracted twigs (MTE) and aqueous-extracted lea...

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Main Authors: Wei Qian, Jinyan Han, Xiang Shi, Xiaoqing Qin, Feng Jiao, Minjuan Zhang, Lijun Bao, Chao Su
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1768
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Summary:Mulberry (<i>Morus alba</i>) twigs and leaves, rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, and alkaloids with multi-target regulatory properties on glucose/lipid metabolism, were evaluated for their anti-obesity effects using methanol-extracted twigs (MTE) and aqueous-extracted leaves (MLE) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Both extracts significantly ameliorated obesity-related metabolic dysregulation, as evidenced by attenuated body weight gain, visceral fat accumulation, serum lipid profiles, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and hepatic inflammation compared to HFD controls (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Concurrently, MTE and MLE enhanced systemic antioxidant capacity and elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Notably, high-dose MTE (MTEH, 1000 mg/kg) markedly reduced perirenal adiposity while increasing brown adipose tissue mass (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Mechanistic investigations revealed that MTEH reshaped gut microbiota composition by suppressing <i>Firmicutes</i> and <i>Enterococcus</i>, while enriching beneficial <i>Faecalibaculum</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> spp. (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiling demonstrated MTEH and MLEH-mediated metabolic reprogramming, characterized by increased propionic acid and decreased butyric acid, suggesting microbiota-dependent modulation of host energy metabolism. These findings collectively highlight the potential of mulberry extracts as multi-targeted nutraceuticals for obesity intervention via gut microbiota–SCFA axis regulation.
ISSN:2076-2615