(EA01-03-25) Citrus reticulata Extract Attenuates Obesity and Obesity-Related Muscle Atrophy in High-Fat Induced Mice Model

Scientific conference where the work was recently presented: 2024 International Symposium and Annual Meeting of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition

Date on which the work was previously presented at the scientific conference listed: October 24, 2024

Objectives: Obesity is a growing global health concern, associated with serious complications including obesity-related muscle atrophy. Obesity-related muscle atrophy is defined as a concurrent decrease in muscle mass and function and an increase in deposited fat, which majorly affects the metabolism of endocrine hormones. This study aims to evaluate the effects of Citrus reticulata extract (CR) on lipid accumulation and metabolic changes, and explore its potential as a novel therapeutic approach for obesity-induced muscle atrophy.

Methods: C57BL/6N mice were fed a 60% high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks, and lipid accumulation and muscle atrophy in the adipocytes and muscle cells were evaluated. These mice were grouped into five categories: 1) CON: control mice fed normal diet, 2) HF: mice fed HFD, 3) CR30: HF receiving an oral dose of 30 mg/kg of CR, 4) CR60: HF receiving an oral dose of 60 mg/kg of CR, and 5) CR120: HF receiving an oral dose of 120 mg/kg of CR for 8 weeks. The treatment was administered daily for 8 weeks.

Results: All CR-treated groups exhibited significant reductions in body weight and fat mass compared to the HF group. CR treatment restored abnormal levels of blood adiponectin, leptin, and lipid profiles to normal. CR regulated adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. Additionally, CR significantly mitigated muscle atrophy by modulating protein homeostasis through the ubiquitin-proteasome system in muscle cells. It also promoted muscle differentiation, as indicated by increased myogenin and myosin heavy chain expression, and activated the AMPK pathway, leading to mitochondrial biogenesis and improved muscle function.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of Citrus reticulata in modulating the metabolic balance in both adipocytes and muscle cells by influencing lipid metabolism and protein homeostasis. CR demonstrated significant effects in reducing obesity-related fat accumulation and muscle atrophy, making it a promising candidate for therapeutic strategies targeting obesity and muscle wasting disorders.

Funding Sources: This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (RS-2024-1843).