Anti‐obesity effects of Emblica officinalis (Amla) are associated with inhibition of nuclear transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)

Abstract

Emblica officinalis (EO), or Indian gooseberry, has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic herbal preparations as an anti‐aging or rejuvenating medicine. All parts of EO plants including the leaves, bark or fruit have demonstrated significant efficacy to alleviate inflammation, cancer, renal disease, and diabetes‐induced oxidative stress in rodent models. The objective of our study was to investigate the anti‐obesity effects of EO in mice fed 58% kcal high‐fat‐diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into four groups: 1) control, 2) EO (10% w/w), 3) HFD and 4) HFD + EO. EO had no significant effect on daily food intake but significantly inhibited body weight gain as well as adipose tissue weights in mice fed HFD. Mechanistic studies indicated that EO normalized adipose mRNA expression of nuclear transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator‐associated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Bioactive‐guided fractionation of EO demonstrated that aqueous extract was more effective in inhibiting lipid accumulation in 3T3‐L1 mouse adipocytes treated during differentiation. Future studies are warranted to identify the physiologically effective doses of EO and mechanisms involved in inhibiting adipocyte differentiation. [Grants: NCCAM (R21AT003719), USDA‐CREES (2004‐34135‐15182)].