Hibiscus manihot L improves obesity in mice induced by a high-fat diet

Hibiscus manihot L (HM) is a natural plant that contains a variety of biologically active ingredients, but its role in obesity is unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore the anti-obesity activity of HM and its related mechanisms. 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes were used to test the anti-adipogenic activity of HM. Feeding mice on a high-fat diet with HM for 10 weeks reduced the obesity and insulin resistance of the mice. HM upregulated the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and thermogenesis genes and increased the abundance of Mucispirillum sp 69. In conclusion, HM may reduce obesity of mice induced by a high-fat diet by changing the composition of the gut microbiota, activating UCP1 to increase the thermogenesis of brown fat and inducing the browning of white fat. Thus, HM may be a potential drug for the treatment of obesity.